Category CH P01 Analyze This: Aspirin Content in Powder Form and Tablets

Abstract Aspirin is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent that is widely used all

over the world. There are different analytical methods that could be used

to detect the content of Aspirin powder or its concentration in

pharmaceutical preparations. In this experiment, three different methods of

analysis were tested for accuracy and practicality. The three analytical

procedures are the USP method of Acid-Base Titration, UV Spectroscopy,

and Reverse Phase HPLC. The Acid-Base Titration showed accurate

results but was somewhat cumbersome and tedious to use on consistent

basis. UV Spectroscopy and Reverse Phase HPLC showed both accurate

results and more practicality for everyday use. To test a more real-life

example, three different commercially available preparations containing

known amounts of Aspirin were tested for their concentration of the drug

using UV Spectroscopy and Reverse Phase HPLC. Percent error and

statistical analysis showed that the actual concentration of Aspirin in

these preparations varied somewhat from the stated concentration

depending on the brand. In conclusion, although all analytical methods

seem to be accurate, UV Spectroscopy and HPLC are more practical for

drug analysis and quality control, which is an important process to monitor

different commercially available brands containing the drug.

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Salicylic Acid, and Caffeine in Effervescent Tablets. Journal of

Chromatographic Science, 41, (2003) 393-397.
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