Automated spectrophotometric assay for urine p-aminophenol by an oxidative coupling reaction

Urine p-aminophenol (PAP) concentration serves as a biological marker for occupational exposures to aniline. We report the development of a rapid, simple spectrophotometric method for quantification of urine PAP concentration using a chemical autoanalyzer (Olympus Reply). The method involves oxidative coupling of PAP with an aromatic compound, xylenol, that contains an electron-donating group, based on an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction catalyzed by sodium periodate. A calibration curve is constructed in the same matrix, urine, as the unknown samples to be analyzed. In this way, potential matrix interferences are largely avoided. The linearity range of the method is 20 to 400 mg/L. Time-course studies show that the color formation by reaction of PAP with xylenol is rapid and essentially complete within 5 min. Within-run and day-to-day reproducibility data at medium (50 mg/L) and high (200 mg/L) concentrations yield CV's