Optimization of flow injection Fourier transform infrared spectrometry for the determination of acetaminophen

Abstract

A quantitative study has been undertaken of the possibilities for the determination of species with IR active vibrations in aqueous solutions by flow-injection (FI) Fourier transform infrared (FT–IR) spectrometry. A continuous flow mode was used for the quantitative determination of acetaminophen (paracetamol, N-acetyl-p-aminophenol). An attenuated total reflectance flow cell was used. The optimum FIA and FT–IR parameters for maximum signal to noise ratio were flow rate 0.5 ml min^–1, volume injected 158 µl, 12 sample scans, mirror velocity 3.2 cm s^–1 and resolution 16 cm^–1. The ability of the FT–IR system software to process a time-dependent signal was evaluated.