Electrochemical reduction of nitrofurazone and its determination in pharmaceutical dosage forms by D.c. polarography

Abstract

A d.c. polarographic method was developed for the determination of nitrofurazone in pharmaceutical formulations using individually four different buffer systems, namely acetate (pH 3.60–5.60), Mcllvaine (pH 2.20–8.00), borate (pH 7.80–10.00) and Britton-Robinson (pH 2.00–12.00). The substance was extracted from the dosage forms with 40% methanol, an appropriate buffer of selected pH was added to an aliquot and the solution then polarographed at a dropping-mercury electrode versus S.C.E. The two-step reduction waves observed were found to be irreversible and diffusion controlled. The standard additions technique provided results as satisfactory as those obtained with the use of a calibration graph.