Application of retention indices based on the alkylarylketone scale to the separation of the local anaesthetic drugs by high-performance liquid chromatography.

The separation of the local anaesthetic drugs by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using a Hypersil ODS column has been examined in order to identify critical factors in the establishment of a retention database for interlaboratory comparisons. An eluent of methanol-aqueous orthophosphoric acid (15:85, v/v) (pH 2.5) containing 0.7% hexylamine has been used. The effects of small changes in the eluent composition, pH, temperature and the use of different column packing materials on the retentions of the analytes have been studied. The use of capacity factors, relative capacity factors and retention indices based on the alkylarylketone scale have been compared.