Determination of alginate copolymer in pharmaceutical formulations by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

A micellar electrokinetic chromatography method was developed for the determination and quantification of sodium alginate. The alginate peak migrated in the very short time of 1.33 min and calibrated easily though the polydisperse properties of alginates. The minimum detection limit (LOD) of the method was calculated as 0.393 mg/ml. This analysis method was successfully applied to the alginate quantification in an antacid pharmaceutical formulation. Precise and reproducible analysis results were obtained, with liquid formulations injected directly without any pre-separation process.