Potentiometric membrane sensors for the selective determination of pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) in some pharmaceutical formulations.

The construction and general performance characteristics of two novel potentiometric PVC membrane sensors responsive to the pyridoxine hydrochloride known as vitamin B6 (VB6) are described. These sensors are based on the use of the ion-association complexes of the pyridoxine cation with phosphomolybdate, and phosphotungstate counter anions as ion pair in a plasticized PVC matrix. The electrodes show a stable, near-Nernstian response for 6x10(-5)-1x10(-2) M VB6 at 25 degrees C over the pH range 2-4 with a cationic slope of 54.0+/-0.5 and 54.5+/-0.4 per concentration decade for pyridoxine-phosphomolybdate and pyridoxine-phosphotungstate respectively. The two electrodes have the same lower detection limit (4x10(-5) M) and the response times are 45-60 and 30-45 s in the same order for both. Selectivity coefficients for VB6 relative to a number of interfering substances were investigated. There is negligible interference from many cations, some vitamins and pharmaceutical excipients. Direct potentiometric determination of 15-2000 microg/ml pyridoxine shows an average recovery of 98.0% and 99.0% with relative standard deviation 1.5% and 1.2% at 100.0 microg/ml for pyridoxine-phosphomolybdate and pyridoxine-phosphotungstate electrodes, respectively. The determination of VB6 in some pharmaceutical preparations using the proposed electrodes gave an average recovery of 98.0 and 99.0% of the nominal value and a mean standard deviation of 1.1% and 0.9% (n=10) for pyridoxine-phosphomolybdate and pyridoxine-phosphotungstate electrodes, respectively. The results compare favorably with data obtained by the British Pharmacopoeia method.