An HPLC fluorescence detection system for amines

Abstract

Abstract A detection system is described which is based on fluorescent ion‐pair formation between tertiary amine drugs and dimethoxyanthracene sulphonate. A dynamic micro‐extraction principle is then used to isolate the ion‐pairs from the excess reagent. The band broadening of this extraction detector was kept below 20% using standard auto‐analyser equipment. With the enhanced selectivity and sensitivity of this approach it was possible to analyse chloropheniramine in urine at ppb concentrations using a pre‐column clean‐up trace enrichment step.