Chemiluminescence determination of penicillamine via flow injection applying a quinine-cerium(IV) system

A rapid flow injection method with chemiluminescence detection is described for the determination of penicillamine. The method is based on the chemiluminescence reaction of thiol-containing drugs with cerium(rv) in sulfuric acid medium, Quinine is suggested as a fluorescer for the energy-transferred excitation process. The optimum conditions for chemiluminescence emission were investigated, With peak height as a quantitative parameter, penicillamine can be determined over the concentration range 2-200 mu mol l(-1) with a detection limit of 15 pmol of original thiol. The method was applied to the determination of penicillamine in a pharmaceutical tablet preparation.