FLUOROMETRIC-DETERMINATION OF MORPHINE IN CODEINE

Two easy to handle, sensitive and specific fluorimetric methods for th e detection and determination of morphine in codeine are described. In method A, the codeine sample investigated is treated with alkaline po tassium ferricyanide, whereby morphine when present will produce the f luorescent dimer pseudomorphine. In method B, the codeine sample is th ermally treated with gaseous ammonia on a chromatographic plate where morphine, if present, is converted to a highly fluorescent derivative. The limits of detection were 10 ng and 20 ng for methods A and B resp ectively.