ABSTRACT
The degradation product of penicillin G potassium can react with potassium permanganate in acidic medium and produce chemiluminescence, which is greatly enhanced by formaldehyde. The optimum conditions for this chemiluminescent reaction were studied in detail using a flow-injection system. The experiments indicated that under optimum conditions, the chemiluminescence intensity was linearly related to the concentration of penicillin G potassium within the range 1.0 x 10(-7)-1.0 x 10(-5) g/mL, with a detection limit (3sigma) of 7 x 10(-8) g/mL. The relative standard deviation was 1.0% for 4.0 x 10(-7) g/mL penicillin G potassium solution (n = 11). This method has the advantages of simple operation, fast response and high sensitivity. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of penicillin G potassium in raw medicines.
