DETERMINATION OF POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL)-400 IN URINE BY FOURIER TRANSFORM-INFRARED SPECTROMETRY

A simple and rapid method for the analysis of poly(ethylene glycol)-40 0 (PEG-400) (used in the study of intestinal physiology) in human urin e is described using Fourier transform-infrared spectrometry, The quan titative measurements were carried out by using the absorbance value o f the C-O-C band (wavenumber 1100 cm(-1)). The lower limit of determin ation of PEG-400 in human urine was 0.8 mg cm(-3), Analytical recovery of PEG-400 added to urine controls was 99.6%, The results of the anal yses of one urine sample were compared with those obtained by using hi gh-performance liquid chromatography. Limitations and advantages of th e two systems are discussed.