SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF NICOTINE AND COTININE IN UNTREATED HUMAN URINE BY MICELLAR LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A simple, precise, accurate and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of nicotine and cotinine by direct injection of human ur ine was developed and validated. This method utilizes nontoxic, nonfla mmable and relatively inexpensive sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) as a mo bile phase and eliminates the need for pretreating the urine. Optimum conditions for the separation of cotinine and nicotine, the column eff iciency, and the elution of nonalkaloid components in urine were inves tigated. Nicotine and cotinine in untreated human urine were separated and quantitatively eluted using 0.20 M SDS and 3% 2-propanol at a pH of 4.60 and column temperature at 40 degrees C. Retention times for ni cotine and cotinine were: 10.85 and 9.48 minutes respectively, and all components in the urine sample were eluted within 15 minutes. This me thod may be suitable for use in hospitals, research centers, or in a p hysician's office.