Analysis of ceftazidime and related compounds by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method for the separation and quantification of ceftazidime, its Δ2-isomer and pyridine (two ceftazidime related impurities) was developed and validated. Optimised conditions were obtained using an electrolyte system consisting of 25 mM sodium tetraborate, at pH 9.2, and 75 mM sodium dodecylsulphate. A limit of detection of 0.2 μg ml−1 and a limit of quantitation of 0.6 μg ml−1 were estimated for pyridine and Δ2-isomer; this means that levels of 0.999. Good reproducibility for migration times and corrected peak areas were achieved (RSD % 0.3 and 1.0, respectively). The results demonstrate that the method is reproducible, accurate and appropriate for ceftazidime assay in pharmaceutical samples.