Spectrophotometric Determination of Cefotaxime and Cefadroxil by Alkaline Degradation to Hydrogen Sulphide and Formation of Violet Colour PDF

Keywords

cefotaxime, cefadroxil, sodium hydroxide

Abstract

A spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of cefotaxime and cefadroxil in various drug formulations. The method is based on the hydrolysis of cefotaxime and cefadroxil in sodium hydroxide that releases hydrogen sulphide, which is then reacted with p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride in an acidic solution and oxidising the intermediate with Fe (III) ions to give the violet colour. The absorbance of the colour developed is measured at ca. 597 nm for both the drugs. The effect of reagents concentrations and reaction conditions is discussed. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of some pharmaceutical formulations, particularly of the injection and capsule types.