Spectrofluorometric determination of atropine-hyoscyamine in tablets and powders.

A method is presented for determining atropine-hyoscyamine alkaloids in tablets and powders by spectrofluorometry. The sample is first shaken with 0.1N H2SO4 solution; then and aliquot containing about 0.1 mg alkaloid is transferred to a separatory funnel, made basic with NaOH solution, and extracted with CHCL3. The extract is added to a CEelite-092N H2SO column and the eluate is discarded. The alkaloids are then eluted from the column with ammoniacal CHCl3 and the eluate is evaporated to dryness. The residue is dissolved in CHCL3, EOSIN Y solution is added, and the solution is mixed. Aliqutos of a reference solution of atropine are similarly treated and a blank is prepared from CHCl3 and eosin Y solution, All solutions are scanned with a recording spectrofluorometer in the emission mode from 440 to 700 nm and the excitation set at 475 nm. The emission peaks near 550 nm are used for quantitative estimation of the alkaloids. The method cannot generally be used in the presence of other organic bases but is applicable in the presence of barbiturates.