Electrochemical analysis of the cephalosporin cefamandole nafate.

The polarographic assays for cefamandole sodium and its formyl ester, cefamandole nafate, are described. Controlled potential coulometry is used as an absolute method for the assignment of purity of these compounds without the need for a reference material. The precision, accuracy, and selectivity of these assays were better than for the microbiological autoturbidimetric and automated iodometric assays. NMR, TLC, GC, and polarography are used to detect and quantitate likely impurities and degradation products.