A Mössbauer and X-ray powder diffraction study of some ferrous hematinics

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Iron deficiency anemia is a prevalent condition requiring effective oral hematinic treatments.
• Ferrous fumarate, gluconate, and sulfate are commonly prescribed iron salts for anemia.
• Characterization of these iron supplements is crucial for quality control and therapeutic efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To distinguish between different ferrous salt formulations used to treat iron deficiency anemia.
• To analyze the chemical composition and structural properties of ferrous fumarate, gluconate, and sulfate.
• To report the first Mössbauer spectrum for ferrous fumarate.

Main Methods:

• Mössbauer spectroscopy was employed to analyze the iron compounds.
• X-ray powder diffraction was utilized for structural characterization.
• Comparison of experimental data with JCPDS (Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards) data.

Main Results:

• Both ferrous fumarate and ferrous gluconate samples contained approximately 10% ferric iron.
• The two ferrous sulfate samples analyzed closely matched the monohydrate form based on X-ray powder patterns.
• Mössbauer spectroscopy successfully differentiated the various iron salt preparations.

Conclusions:

• Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction are effective methods for distinguishing between common oral iron supplements.
• The presence of ferric iron in ferrous fumarate and gluconate warrants further investigation regarding therapeutic implications.
• This study provides valuable spectral data for ferrous fumarate, aiding in its identification and quality assessment.