3.1. Absorption Spectrum Analysis . Specific Absorbance and Molar Extinction Coefficient (ε) or Molar Absorptivity Calculations
Absorption spectrum was plotted in the Visible range (
Figure 2) for a Sodium Valproate standard solution with concentration C
S = 1.44 μg /mL = 0.000144 g %. It was established that the maximum absorption of the bright light Yellow monoazo dye quatitatively obtained from Sodium Valproate was assigned to the wavelenght λ = 386 nm corresponding to absorbance A = 0.540. According to the relationship (1)
a = A / CS = 0.540 / 0.000144 = 3750.
Specific absorbance of the pure standard sodium valproate solution, whose absorption spectrum was plotted (
Figure 2), had the
value a = 3750 = specific absorbance calculated for the concentration of target standard solution C
S = 1.44 μg /ml = 0.000144 g % = 1.44.10
-4 g %.
Molar absorbtivity was calculated according to Bouguer Lambert-Beer law, as follows
: ε = A / CM (2), where C
M = represented concentration of standard solution of sodium valproate expressed in Moles / L assigmed to
CS = 1.44 μg /mL for which was plotted the absorption spectrum, and A = the average absorbance corresponding to the absorption maximum was the same = 0.540. Target standard solution concentration was trandformed into g/L (g/1000 mL):
CS = 1.44 μg /mL = 0.000144 g % =
0.00144 g/L = 1.44 .10-3 g/L Wavelength corresponding to the absorption maximum of monoazo dye was ƛ = 386 nm corresponding to A = 0.540. Molecular formula of the bright light Yellow monoazo dye quantitatively formed was:
C18H21N2O2Na. Molecular mass of this bright light yellow dye obtained was M = 216 + 21 + 28 + 32 + 23 = 320 g/mol. So, the molecular mass of the light yellow monoazo dye obtained was
M = 320 g/mol. Then
CS = 1.44 μg /mL = 0.000144 g % =
1.44 .10-4 g % = 0.00144 g/L = 1.44 .10-3 g/L Then, standard solution concentration of Sodium Valproate was converted from
g/L to Mole/L: CM = molar concentration directly assigned to
CS = 1.44 .10-3 g/L Sodium Valproate standard solution It was known the molar mass of bright light Yellow monoazo dye obtained was
M = 320 g/mol. So, CM = (1.44 .10-3 ) / 320 expressed in Moles/L. Thus, CM = 4.5. 10-6 Moles / L was final molar concentration of standard Sodium Valproate solution corresponding to the initial analyzed solution
CS = 1.44 .10-3 g/L =
1.44 .10-4 g% = 1,44 μg/mL Sodium Valproate, for which the absorption spectrum was plotted
. From formula (2) it was concluded
: ε = A / CM = 0.540 / 4.5.10
-6 = 0.540 / 0.0000045 =
120000.00. Molar extinction coefficient “ε” (molar absorptivity) had a proper value
: ε = 120000.00 corresponding to
CM = 4.5. 10-6 Moles / L standard solution . It was registered also a good specific absorbance
a = 3750; both molar extinction coefficient and specific absorbance were assigned to the initial studied standard solution
CS = 1.44 .10-3 g/L =
1.44 .10-4 g% = 1,44 μg/mL, that has contained the bright light Yellow monoazxo dye quatitatively obtained from Sodium Valproate. This initial standard solution of Sodium Valproate for which the Spectrum has been plotted also had a molar concentration
CM = 4.5. 10-6 Moles / L.
B. Design of Calibration Graph through the use of standard concentrations range values between 0.16 μg/mL – 2.08 μg/mL
Before quantitatively analyzing the active substance in the pharmaceutical form under study (film-coated tablets with prolonged release), spectrophotometer was calibrated at wavelength corresponding to absorption maximum of the btight light yellow colored compound analyzed at λ = 386 nm , for monoazo dye quantitatively formed by chemical reaction of Sodium Valproate with α-naphthylamine 0.1%, in the presence of NaNO
2 4%-5% and HCl 10%-15%. Calibration plot was drawn with the help of standard solutions of sodium valproate 0.16 μg/mL – 2.08 μg/mL (
Table 3). Drawn calibration line was illustrated in
Figure 3 (A) and
Figure 3 (B) .
Figure 3 (A) described the standard error of the regression line (SE) which presented a very small value SE = 0.00621264 (SE → 0, from TABLE 6) within the perfect normal range of values and represented the average distance that the observed and experimentally determined values (measured Absorbances) fall from the regression line that reflected ideal theoretical, references values.
From
Figure 3.(B). it was noticed that the linear regression coefficient
R2 = 0.9993 had a very good value.
R2 ≥ 0.9990 and was statistically valid. Almost perfect linearity of the method was found, in the case of standard solutions of Sodium Valproate, over the entire considered range of standard solutions concentrations (0.16 µg/mL- 2.08 µg/mL).
3.1.1. Quantitative Analysis of Sodium Valproate in Tablets of a Pharmaceutical Product: Calculation of Pure Amount Expressed in Milligrammes (mg) of Sodium Valproate Relative to Solid Extended-Release Tablet of Pharmaceutical
According to the manufacturer, one extended-release solid film-coated tablet contained 500 mg of pure Sodium Valproate. Weighted average mass of a tablet was mC = 0.5 g = 500 mg. Measured average absorbance value of the sample solution was AP = 0.221.
Calculation of pure sodium valproate concentration Cp (µg/mL) present in sample solution, from equation of the regression line (
Figure 3):
From equation (3), Cp (µg/mL) = (Ap - 0.0774) / 0.3796, according to Figure 4 deduced that Cp (µg/mL) = (0.221 - 0.0774) / 0.3796. = 0.3783 μg/mL, so Cp = 0.3783 μg/mL.
From equation (4), X = Cp (µg/mL). V’ = 0.3783 . 25 = 9.4575 μg X = 9.4575 μg Sodium Valproate in V’ = 25 mL final sample solution P2.
From equation (5), X1 = VP .X /v2 = (9.4575 .25) / 2 = 118.21875 μg., X1 = 118.21875 μg Sodium Valproate in VP = 25 mL initial prepared sample solution P1.
From equation (6), Y = VX .X1 / v1 = (118.21875 . 50) / 0.3 = 19703,125 μg. Thus, Y = 19703,125 μg Sodium Valproate in VX = 50 mL total sample solution initially prepared in the volumetric flask.
Determination and analysis of the quantities Y’ and Y1 expressed in μg and mg respectively, of pure sodium valproate from a = 0.02 g sample analyzed powder, related to the average mass of a phramaceutical tablet mc = 500 mg = 0.5 g.
From equation (7), Y’ = (Y . mc) / a = (19703,125 . 0.5) / 0.02 = 492578,125 μg.. Then, Y’ = 492578,125 μg pure Sodium Valproate from a = 0.02 g sample analyzed powder, related to average mass of a phramaceutical tablet mc = 500 mg = 0.5 g. So, Y1 = Y’ . 10-3 (8) = 492578,125 . 10-3 mg . Thus, Y1 = 492578,125 . 10-3 mg = 492.578 mg represented the real final calculated content of pure Sodium Valproate from a = 0.02 g sample powder analyzed, related to the average mass of a prolonged-release tablet that was mc = 500 mg = 0.5 g
According to relation (9), Z = (Y1./ 5) mg % = 492.578 / 5 = 98.5156 % . So, Z = 98.5156 mg % was real calculated percentage content of pure Sodium Valproate on solid film-coated tablet of pharmaceutical product:
It was observed that real percentage content Z (%) of pure sodium valproate calculated per film-coated tablet with prolonged release was: Z = 98.5156 % which has corresponded to an amount of Y1 = 492.578 mg of pure active substance found on pharmaceutical tablet.. Thus, the average percentage error (deviation) from the official reference value of 500 mg Sodium Valproate on pharmaceutical tablet (which was assigned to a 100 % considered percentage), was only E = 100 % - 98.5156 % = 1.4844 % . So, average percentage error (deviation) calculated E = 1.4844 % was located within the normal limit of values. .The mean calculated percentage error (deviation) was below the maximum allowed average percentage deviation from the officially declared active substance content, imposed by the Romanian Pharmacopoeia 10th Edition. and by the European Pharmacopoeia Rules (± 5 %).
3.1.2. Method Linearity Analysis. Calculation of Dectection Limit (LOD) and Quantitation Limit (LOQ)
Statistical parameters of method linearity were determined using Microsoft Office Excel 2019 (Data → Data Analysis → Regression) and were described in Table 6. Standard solutions concentration range chosen was between: 0.16 μg/ mL – 2.08 μg/ mL. Equation of the regression line: y = 0.3796 x- + 0.0774 (
Figure 3), or A(λ) = 0.3796. Cp(μg/mL) + 0.0774. Intercept with the ordinate had the value 0.0774, and the slope of the line was 0.3796. The linear regression coefficient R
2 = 0.99933024, R
2 ≥ 0.9990 and the correlation coefficient R = 0.99966506, R > 0.9990 (Table 6). Both of them were between the normal limits of values, above the minimum allowed value 0.9990, that described the directly proportional variation of measured absorbances of standard solutions with their concentrations. Standard error of the regression line was SE = 0.00621264 (Table 6).
Detection Limit, LOD was calculated according to formula (10) as follows: LOD = 3 . 0.00621264 / 0.3796, LOD = 0.0491 μg/ mL, it fell between the normal values. LOD = 0.0491 μg/mL LOD <<1. Quantitation Limit , LOQ was calculated according to formula (11) as follows: LOQ = 10 . 0.00621264 / 0.3796, LOQ = 0.1636 μg/ mL, it also fell within the normal range of values. LOQ = 0.1636 μg/m, LOQ < 1 . Both, LOD and LOQ had very small values and was within the normal limits.