High-speed liquid chromatographic analysis of sulfasalazine (salicylazosulfapyridine)

A high-speed liquid chromatographic method for analysis of sulfasalazine (salicylazosulfapyridine) in bulk powder and tablet dosage form is presented. Analysis is accomplished with a reverse-phase partition column and 10% 2-propanol in pH 7.7 phosphate buffer as the mobile phase. The method of analysis utilizes a simple, one-step, solubilization procedure with dimethylformamide, addition of an internal standard, and chromatography. The method is specific for sulfasalazine in the presence of starting materials, degradation products, or by-products from its manufacture.