A multicommutation-based flow system for multi-element analysis in pharmaceutical preparations

A flow system exploiting multicommutation and multidetection is proposed for sequential determinations in pharmaceutical preparations. The feasibilities were demonstrated by the determination of zinc, iron, copper, calcium and magnesium without changing the flow set-up. The gravitational flow of the solutions was exploited for addition of different chromogenic reagents and sample aliquots, thus avoiding the use of a propulsion unit. Transient signals at different wavelengths were measured simultaneously employing a fiber-optic multichannel spectrophotometer. Coefficients of variation of 1.0, 1.5, 1.4, 2.5 and 2.0% were obtained for iron, zinc, copper, calcium and magnesium, respectively. The mean sampling rate for the five species was 60 determinations per hour. In comparison to continuous reagent addition systems, the consumption was up to 160-fold lower. Results for pharmaceutical preparations agreed with those obtained by Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) at the 95% confidence level.