A New Flame AAS Application for Magnesium Determination in Solid Pharmaceutical Preparations as an Active Ingredient and an Excipient
Abdullah Sbahi
Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Aleppo, Syria.
Wassim Abdelwahed
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Aleppo, Syria.
Amir Alhaj Sakur *
Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Aleppo, Syria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: A new application of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) has been carried out to determine magnesium in its solid preparations (effervescent and uncoated compressed tablets) as an active ingredient and/or excipient.
Methodology: The linear range of magnesium was determined. A sample of magnesium effervescent tablets was analyzed. Magnesium stearate concentration was also indirectly determined in commercial paracetamol tablets using two digestion methods. Finally, a sample of drug-free tablets (only contain excipients) was analyzed to study the effect of talc on total magnesium content of the sample.
Results: Linear range was observed in concentrations between 0.08-0.40 ug/mL of magnesium. Effervescent tablets samples were recovered in the range between 98.66-103.00% which indicates that the product meets specifications. For paracetamol tablets, the content of magnesium stearate was in average of 0.2% and there is no differences between the two digestion methods (t=0.454). Our work on the drug-free sample proved a significant increase of magnesium concentrations in the presence of talc.
Conclusion: The AAS method is a simple and rapid technique that can be employed for the simultaneous estimation of magnesium in in-process and final products analyses.
Keywords: Flame atomic absorption, spectroscopy, magnesium, magnesium stearate, microwave digestion.