Determination of salicylic acid and its metabolites in urine by derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetry.

The simultaneous determination of salicylic acid in binary and/or ternary mixtures and its two main urinary metabolites is proposed. Mixtures of salicylic, salicyluric and gentisic acids are resolved by synchronous spectrofluorimetry, in combination with first-derivative measurements. The urine is extracted with diethyl ether in acid medium. Salicylic and salicyluric acids are re-extracted into glycine-sodium hydroxide buffer solution of pH 11.6 and determined at that pH, and salicylic and gentisic acids are re-extracted into boric acid-sodium hydroxide buffer solution of pH 8.5 and determined at pH 6.