Gas chromatographic determination of pemoline in biological fluids using electron capture detection

A simple and sensitive gas chromatographic (GC) method for the determination of pemoline in biological fluids, utilizing electron capture detection is described. Plasma samples with a pemoline analog added as internal standard were deproteinized with sulfosalicylic acid, and the supernatants were heated at 80 degrees. The pemoline-dione formed was extracted with benzene, and the extract was analyzed on a gas chromatograph equipped with a tritium foil electron capture detector. Poly A-103 (3%) on Gas-Chrom Q (100-120 mesh) packed in a 3-ft. silanized glass column was used as the stationary phase, with nitrogen serving as carrier gass. Under the same GC conditions, benzene extracts of pemoline-dione from acid-hydrolyzed urine samples were analyzed. Us-ng 1 ml of plasma or urine, the lower limit for the assay was about 0.1 microgram/ml. The method is accurate and reproducible, with a relative standard deviation with +/-4%. Mandelic acid (a metabolite of pemoline) does not interfere with the assay.