Abstract In this work, a simple and fast method is proposed for the determination of ethanol in homeopathic medicines using thermal infrared enthalpimetry (TIE). Samples containing alcohol in a wide concentration range (from 5% to 95% v/v) were used. Purified water or absolute ethanol was added directly into homeopathic medicine and increase of temperature was monitored using an infrared camera. Total volume, stirring speed and dispensing rate of solutions were the most significant parameters studied for method optimization. A response surface methodology (RSM) was used for optimization of the experimental conditions. The method was validated in the following parameters: selectivity, linearity, linear range, precision (repeatability and intermediate precision), limit of detection and quantification, accuracy and robustness. Linear range was obtained from 4% to 55% (ethanol, v/v). The proposed method showed accuracy in agreement with the conventional one. The proposed method it was demonstrated a good alternative for determination of ethanol in homeopathic medicines, presenting low cost, fast analysis and agreement with the principles of green analytical chemistry.

Um método alternativo para quantificação de sulfametoxazol (SMZ) e trimetoprima (TMP), empre gando espectrometria por refletância difusa no infra vermelho por transformada de Fourier (DRIFTS) e regressão por mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS) foi desenvolvido. Regressão por mínimos quadrados parciais por intervalo (iPLS) e por sinergismo de intervalos (siPLS) foram aplicadas para selecionar as faixas espectrais que produziram modelos com menores erros na previsão, em comparação ao modelo que emprega todo o espectro. Quinze comprimidos de formulações comerciais e quarenta e nove amostras sintéticas foram usados. As faixas de concentração consideradas foram de 400-900 mg g-1 para o SMZ e de 80-240 mg g-1 para a TMP. Os espectros por refletância difusa no infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (DRIFTS) foram adquiridos na faixa 600-4000cm-1 com resolução de 4 cm-1. O presente procedimento foi comparado com cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC). Os resultados obtidos para os erros quadráticos médios de previsão (RMSEP), durante a validação dos modelos para as amostras de sulfametoxazol (SMZ) e trimetoprima (TMP) usando siPLS, demonstram que esta abordagem trata-se de uma técnica válida para análise quantitativa de formulações farmacêuticas. Os modelos de regressão, obtidos a partir dos intervalos selecionados pelo algoritmo, apresentaram menores erros quando comparados ao modelo PLS global. Para as melhores regiões selecionadas pelosiPLS, Os valores RMSEP de 13,03 mg g-1 para SMZ e de 4,88 mg g-1 para TMP foram obtidos a partir da seleção das melhores regiões espectrais pelo siPLS.

An alternative method for the quantification of sulphametoxazole (SMZ) and trimethoprim (TMP) using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and partial least square regression (PLS) was developed. Interval Partial Least Square (iPLS) and Synergy Partial Least Square (siPLS) were applied to select a spectral range that provided the lowest prediction error in comparison to the full-spectrum model. Fifteen commercial tablet formulations and forty-nine synthetic samples were used. The ranges of concentration considered were 400 to 900 mg g-1SMZ and 80 to 240 mg g-1 TMP. Spectral data were recorded between 600 and 4000 cm-1 with a 4 cm-1 resolution by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The proposed procedure was compared to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results obtained from the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), during the validation of the models for samples of sulphamethoxazole (SMZ) and trimethoprim (TMP) using siPLS, demonstrate that this approach is a valid technique for use in quantitative analysis of pharmaceutical formulations. The selected interval algorithm allowed building regression models with minor errors when compared to the full spectrum PLS model. A RMSEP of 13.03 mg g-1for SMZ and 4.88 mg g-1 for TMP was obtained after the selection the best spectral regions by siPLS.