Indirect atomic absorption spectrometric determination of alkaloids using an air-acetylene flame

Abstract

An assay method has been developed which involves the extraction of ion pairs consisting of alkaloids and the inorganic complex Ni(SCN)₄^–2, followed by the determination of nickel in the organic phase by atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimum experimental conditions for pH, concentration of Ni(SCN)₄^–2, shaking time, aqueous to organic phase ratio and the number of extractions were determined. Atropine sulphate and pilocarpine hydrochloride were chosen as typical molecules and the method developed was applied to pharmaceutical preparations of atropine sulphate in eye drops, injection solutions and tablets and also eye drops containing pilocarpine hydrochloride.