High-performance liquid chromatography of deferoxamine and ferrioxamine: interference by iron present in the chromatographic system.

The assay of the complexed (ferrioxamine) and uncomplexed forms of deferoxamine, a strong iron(III) chelating agent, by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was investigated. Complex formation with trace amounts of iron in the chromatographic system hinders the assay of deferoxamine by causing appearance of unexpected peaks, reaction zones and variations in retention time. By purging the column with deferoxamine and using EDTA in the mobile phase, these adverse effects in the determination of deferoxamine were eliminated. No interference by iron contamination of the chromatographic system was found in the assay of ferrioxamine, which is facilitated by the strong absorption of the analyte at 430 nm.