SOLID-SURFACE ROOM-TEMPERATURE PHOSPHORIMETRIC DETECTION OF CAFFEINE, THEOPHYLLINE AND THEOBROMINE IN LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Solid-surface room-temperature phosphorimetry (SSRTP) is proposed as an alternative detection technique for the liquid chromatographic determination of caffeine, theophylline and theobromine. The measurements are performed in a continuous mode with a two-nebulizer automated system for SSRTP detection. The analytical figures of merit obtained with the proposed detector are compared with those obtained by UV absorption detection. The SSRTP and UV chromatograms of spiked urine samples are compared, and the possibility of keeping the SSRTP substrates as permanent records of analyzed samples is discussed.