Colorimetric microdetermination of bromhexine drug in aqueous solution

A simple, accurate and sensitive method for determination of bromhexine hydrochloride drug in aqueous solution has been described. The procedure has been based on the reaction of this drug with an excess amount of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (DAB) in acidic medium (pH = 1. 6) and the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The produced yellow color from this reaction has been followed spectrophotometrically at an absorbance maximum of 430 run. Microgram amounts of bromhexine hydrochloride can be estimated with an accuracy of better than +/- 1.5% and a relative standard deviation of less than 3.5%. The method has been used for the determination of 0.41-82.5 mu g.mL(-1) with a molar extinction coefficient of 4699.1-3602.3 L.mol(-1).cm(-1).