Optimization of micellar LC conditions for separation of opium alkaloids and their determination in pharmaceutical preparations

Abstract

Micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) has been developed for the analysis of opium alkaloids. The composition of micellar mobile phase for the separation of morphine, codeine, papaverine and noscapine have been optimized by a chemometric tool taking into account the efficiency and asymmetry of chromatographic peaks, resolution between each pair of peaks and total time of separation. The optimized mobile phase composition (0.10 M sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), 5% (v/v) 1-butanol; pH 2.5) allows to fully separate alkaloids within 15 min. The proposed MLC method was validated, compared with the RP-HPLC method and successfully applied for the analysis of the pharmaceutical preparation “Omnopon, solution for injection”.