Development of chromatographic methods for analysis of sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, their degradation products and preservatives in syrup

Abstract

In this paper the experimental conditions for optimal reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) determination of sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and preservatives, as well as degradation products of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in syrup were defined. The determination of active compounds and preservatives was carried out on Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18, 150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm particle size column, mobile phase flow rate was 1.5 mL min-1, and detection at 235 nm for the active compounds and 254 nm for preservatives. Mobile phase A consisted of 150 mL of acetonitrile, 850 mL of water and 1 mL of triethanolamine (pH 5.90 adjusted with diluted acetic acid), while mobile phase B was acetonitrile. The mobile phase ratio was defined by the gradient program. For the determination of degradation products Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18, 100 mm x 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm particle size column was used, the mobile phase flow rate was 0.5 mL min-1 and detection at 210 nm for 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid and 254 nm for sulfanilic acid and sulfanilamide. Mobile phase A was 50 mM potassium dihydrogenphosphate (pH 5.60 adjusted with a 0.5 mol L-1 potassium hydroxide), while mobile phase B was acetonitrile. The mobile phase ratio was defined by the gradient program. Through the validation of the developed methods their efficiency and reliability is confirmed and consequently the adequacy for the routine control.

Keywords

• sulfamethoxazole
• trimethoprim
• preservatives
• degradation products
• reversed-phase liquid chromatography