Quantitative determinations of antipyrine and benzocaine in ear drops by high-pressure liquid chromatography

Antipyrine and benzocaine were determined quantitatively in ear drops by high-pressure liquid chromatography on an octadecyltrichlorosilane permanently bonded to a Si-C column, using 0.02 M KH2PO4 in methanol-water as the mobile phase. Both compounds can be assayed in combination directly without interference from each other or from oxyquinoline sulfate (the preservative). The method is accurate, precise (estimated universe standard deviations of 0.68% for antipyrine and 1.18% for benzocaine), simple, and short (requires 30 min versus 2-3 hr by the NF method). The method was tried on a commercial product with excellent results and can be used in the presence of decomposition products.