High-speed ion-pair partition chromatography in pharmaceutical analysis.

Ion-pair chromatography offers attractive possibilities in pharmaceutical analysis. The specificity of the separation systems can be varied over a wide range by appropriate selection of the stationary phase. The choice of a suitable counter-ion can also drastically improve the detection limit, permitting the determination of drug substances in low dosage and possibly of by-products or breakdown products. Ion-pair chromatography of tropane and ergot alkaloids has been investigated using picrate as counter-ion. Alumina, Kieselguhr and various grades of silica gel have been tested as supports. Partition properties studied in a batch procedure have been compared with the actual chromatographic conditions. Columns (10 cm) filled with silical gel (particle size, 5 mum; pore size, 1000 A) show the best performance in the separation of hyoscyamine, scopolamine and ergotamine as picrate ion-pairs. Close control of pH and temperature is essential for reproducible separations. Improvements in detection limits between 100 and 300 times have been observed with these systems. Ion-pair extractions of these alkaloids from dosage forms can be used for sample preparation prior to injection on the the column. This provides an added degree of selectivity and sensitivity.