High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of penicillins by means of automated solid-phase extraction and photochemical degradation with electrochemical detection.

An automated precolumn exchange system for on-line solid-phase extraction (OPS-2) coupled to liquid chromatography with photochemical degradation and electrochemical detection was used for the determination of residual amounts of penicillin G, penicillin V, oxacillin, cloxacillin and dicloxacillin. A 5-10-fold increase in sensitivity was obtained when compared with direct UV detection of penicillins at 225 nm. The system is recommended for samples that have received an immunoaffinity clean-up. Analysis of bovine muscle tissue indicated, however, that this procedure could also be suitable for the determination of penicillin G at its maximum residue limit of 50 micrograms/kg even with conventional solvent partitioning for the first clean-up steps.