Semi-automated cloud point extraction with cold column trapping of surfactant-rich phase for phenazopyridine determination in human serum

Abstract

A semi-automated cold column trapping-cloud point extraction (CCT-CPE) method was developed and applied to the determination of phenazopyridine in human serum. In the proposed technique, a mixture of sample (pH 8) and Triton X-100 (0.4 % v/v) was incubated at 90 °C for 5 min in a heating sample cell. The developed turbid solution was then flowed through a CCT preconcentration column packed with C18 sorbent using a peristaltic pump. A pair of thermal electric cooler (TEC) plates was used for cooling the column. The surfactant-rich phase was retained on the CCT at 0 °C and desorbed, subsequently, in an elevated temperature by ethanol. The analytical parameters such as pH, surfactant concentration, temperature and incubation time were optimized by a central composite design (response surface) method. Six replicated analyses at the optimized conditions resulted in a recovery of 99.7 % and a relative standard deviation of 2.45 for phenazopyridine. The detection limit of the method (3σ) was 0.50 mg L⁻¹ for the analyte. Compared to conventional CPE, the proposed CCT-CPE method required less sample handling, eliminated the centrifugation step and was substantially faster. The method was successfully applied to the determination of phenazopyridine in some human serum and tablet samples.