[Use of extraction-frequency metric method for the determination of microquantities of ephedrine and its application...

A new extraction--frequency metric method has been proposed for the determination of ephedrine, which can not be determined by the conventional extraction--weighing method due to its volatility. The method is based on extraction of the free alkaloid followed by measuring the frequency shift of a specially constructed ring--coated piezoelectric crystal at room temperature. The frequency shift is in linear relationship with the content of ephedrine hydrochloride over a range 0.05-1.2 micrograms with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 and a detection limit of 0.02 micrograms. Methods for the assay of ephedrine hydrochloride tablet and nasal solution have been proposed.