Liquid chromatographic determination of morphine sulfate and some contaminants in injections and bulk drug material.

A liquid chromatographic (LC) procedure is described for the assay of morphine sulfate in bulk drug material and injection solutions. The bulk drug and injection samples are prepared by direct dilution with LC mobile solvent. The average bulk drug purity (5 manufacturers) determined by the LC method was 99.9% with a difference of 0.1% from the average purity (anhydrous) found by the official USP XX procedure. The average LC recovery (19 studies) of morphine sulfate added to injection samples was 99.4% with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.14%. Morphine sulfate content was determined in triplicate for 53 injection samples (1-15 mg morphine sulfate/mL) formulated by 6 manufacturers, using the proposed LC procedure. Individual sample CV (n = 3) averaged 1.14%. The LC method is simple and specific for morphine sulfate. Major degradation products, preservatives, and some contaminants and related compounds are separated during LC.