Potentiometric Sensors for the Determination of Trifluoperazine Hydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Preparations

Trifluoperazine is widely used in the treatment of psychotic patients for its neuroleptic and antidepressive action. In this study, the construction, evaluation and application of new potentiometric sensors for trifluoperazine hydrochloride (TFPH) are described. The sensing membranes incorporated either ion-pair complexes of the trifluoperazine cation and phosphotungstic acid (PTA) or phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) or sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB) as electroactive materials in poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membrane. The plasticizers used were di-n-butyl phthalate (DBPH) and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP). After a series of experiments, the best electrodes were based on PTA or PMA as electroactive materials and DBPH as plasticizer. A linear concentration range between 1 x 10(-5) - 1 x 10(-2) M with a near Nernstian slope of 28.43 and 32.11 mV decade(-1), respectively, was obtained. The electrodes were characterized in terms of the composition, usable pH range, life span and response time. The selectivity coefficient values were calculated for different inorganic cations and sugars. Validation of the method shows the suitability of the electrodes for the determination of TFPH in pharmaceutical formulations.