Determination of chromium content in hollow capsules by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry - Master's thesis - Dissertation

Determination of Chromium in Hollow Capsules by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Key words: atomic absorption spectrometer; chromium content of hollow capsule; AA1800H In April 2012, CCTV's "Weekly Quality Report" exposed a serious issue where some companies in Hebei used leather waste treated with quicklime to produce industrial gelatin. This gelatin was then sold to companies in Shaoxing Xinchang to make medicinal capsules, eventually reaching pharmaceutical companies and patients. Since the leather underwent chromium-based tanning processes, these capsules often contained excessive levels of heavy metal chromium. Testing revealed that 13 batches of drugs had chromium levels exceeding safety standards. The primary raw material for industrial gelatin is leather, and chromium tanning has been widely used due to its effectiveness. This process introduces significant amounts of chromium into the final product. According to China’s 2010 Pharmacopoeia, medicinal gelatin must not contain more than 2 mg/kg of chromium. To ensure compliance, accurate testing methods are essential. The method described here is based on the 2010 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and references GB/T 5009.123-2003 for chromium detection in food. It uses a high-pressure digestion approach, which is efficient, safe, and provides accurate results. This method is particularly useful for detecting chromium in medicinal hollow capsules. Sample preparation involves weighing approximately 0.5 g of hollow capsules and placing them in a PTFE digestion tank with 5–10 mL of concentrated nitric acid. After heating at 120–140°C, the solution is filtered and diluted to 25 mL using 1% nitric acid. The blank sample is prepared similarly. Instrument settings include a lamp current of 4 mA, a wavelength of 357.9 nm, an injection volume of 20 µL, and a slit width of 0.2 nm. A matrix modifier is added at 5 µL, and the graphite furnace follows a specific temperature program. This ensures precise measurement of chromium levels. The AA1800H atomic absorption spectrometer is a reliable tool for this analysis, offering fast and accurate results. It is widely used in laboratories for heavy metal testing and is supported by comprehensive technical assistance and after-sales service. By following these procedures, laboratories can effectively monitor chromium levels in pharmaceutical products, ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance.

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