Flow injection-chemiluminescence determination of acyclovir.

The chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of acyclovir (ACV)-potassium permanganate, with formaldehyde as an enhancer, was investigated by the flow-injection system, and a new method is reported for the determination of ACV on the basis of the reaction. The method is rapid, effective and simple for the determination of acyclovir in the range 0.2-80 mg/L, with a limit of detection of 0.06 mg/L (3 S:N), a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.7% for the determination of 1.0 mg/L acyclovir solution in 11 repeated measurements. The method has been applied to the determination of acyclovir in pharmaceuticals, with satisfactory results. The possible reaction mechanism is also discussed briefly.