Fluorimetric determination of the active form of tetracycline, chloretetracycline and oxytetracycline in partially decomposed solutions.

The content of tetracycline (1), chlortetracycline (2) and oxytetracycline (3) has been determined by use of the fluorimetric method in partially decomposed acqueous solutions of different pH values. The procedure consisted in the extraction of fluorescent calcium and 5.5-diethyl-barbituric acid complexes of 1 and 3 (with 2 calcium complex only) into an organic solvent. In the method, only complexes with undecomposed 1--3 show a strong fluorescence. Products of decomposition of the antibiotics did not affect significantly analytical results. Comparative investigations have been carried out with 1--3 using t.l.c. and turbidimetry.