Flow injection chemiluminescence analysis of some penicillins by their sensitizing effect on the potassium permanganate-glyoxal reaction.

A new chemiluminescence method using flow injection is described for the determination of four penicillins, namely: phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, amoxicillin, ampicillin, and ampicillin sodium. The method is based on sensitizing effect of these drugs on the chemiluminescence reaction of potassium permanganate in sulfuric acid with glyoxal. The different experimental parameters affecting the chemiluminescence intensity were carefully studied and incorporated into the procedure. The method allows the determination of 0.1-1.0 microg/ml phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, 0.1-1.0 microg/ml amoxicillin, 0.1-1.0 microg/ml ampicillin, and 0.1-1.0 microg/ml ampicillin sodium. The method was successfully applied to the determination of four penicillin antibiotics in pharmaceutical preparations.