Analytical investigations on cephalosporins--IV: application of Ellman's reagent

The application of 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (Ellman's reagent) for the determination of microgram quantities of various selected cephalosporins in aqueous solution is described. Cephalosporin derivatives (cephalothin sodium, cephacetrile sodium, cefamandole lithium and nafate, cefoperazone sodium and ceftizoxime sodium) have to be treated with 0.5N sodium hydroxide before determination with Ellman's reagent, which reacts with free thiol groups. An aliquot of the solution is reacted with Ellman's reagent in pH 7.2 phosphate buffer and the absorbance of the resulting yellow solution is measured at 410 nm. The method, which is simple and precise, has been applied to determination of those cephalosporins in formulations, the results being compared with those obtained by the Ni-hydroxylamine method.