United States Pharmacopeia chromatographic methods

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) test (467) describes three different approaches to measuring organic volatile impurities in pharmaceuticals. Method I uses a wide-bore coated open tubular column (G-27, 5% phenyl-95 % methylpolysiloxane) with a silica guard column deactivated with phe-nylmethyl siloxane and a flame-ionization detector. The samples are dissolved in water and about 1 p is injected. Limits are set for benzene, chloroform, 1,4-dioxane, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene. Methods V and VI are nearly identical to method I except for varying the chromatographic conditions. For the measurement of methylene chloride in coated tablets, the headspace techniques described above are recommended. 

A vast range of materials have been bonded to silica such as phenyl, cyano, nitro, amino, and diol functionalities. The variety of silica-based sorbents are listed in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) [23] where it is noted that of the 33 column packings, 19 are silica based. The synthesis and characteristics of over 80 nonconventional bonded silicas have been reviewed [24]. In spite of the number of chromatographic packings, 50% of the chromatographers develop methods using a C18 sorbent [1]. Sorbents... 

The standard chemical and biological methods of analysis are those accepted by the United States Pharmacopeia XXlll as well as the ones accepted by the AO AC in 1995 (81—84). The USP method involves saponification of the sample (dry concentrate, premix, powder, capsule, tablet, or aqueous suspension) with aqueous alcohoHc KOH solvent extraction solvent removal chromatographic separation of vitamin D from extraneous ingredients and colormetric determination with antimony trichloride and comparison with a solution of USP cholecalciferol reference standard. 

UNITED STATES PHARMACOPEIA AND NATIONAL FORMULARY CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHODS... 

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