Coupling of a continuous liquid–liquid extractor to a flame atomic absorption spectrometer for the determination of alkaloids

Abstract

A continuous extraction system for the determination of various alkaloids based on the formation of ion pairs between the alkaloids and inorganic complexes, Bil₄^– and Co(SCN)₄^2–, followed by extraction and measurement of bismuth and cobalt in the organic phase (1,2-dichloroethane) by flame atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. The system was applied to amylocaine, papaverine and bromhexine hydrochloride. The method thus developed permits the determination of the three alkaloids over a wide concentration range (0.5–175 µg ml^–1), with a relative standard deviation of approximately 3%.