The determination of busulphan in dissolution samples by flow injection analysis.

A robust colourimetric flow injection analysis (FIA) procedure is described for the determination of busulphan in dissolution samples of a 2 mg tablet formulation. The sample solution is injected directly into a reagent stream containing 4-(4-nitrobenzyl)pyridine/potassium hydrogen phthalate. An on-line heating stage allows the formation of a coloured pyrridinium salt species, which following stabilisation is detected spectrophotometrically at 570 nm. The method has been fully validated and is linear over the concentration range 0.004-0.024 mg of busulphan ml(-1). The method can also been applied to uniformity of content and bulk assay testing.