QUANTITATION OF TAUROLIDINE DECOMPOSITION IN POLYMER-SOLUTIONS BY CHROMOTROPIC-ACID FORMALDEHYDE ASSAY-METHOD

A sensitive, selective, and specific assay was needed to study the deg radation kinetics of taurolidine and its stabilization by polyvinylpyr rolidone (PVP). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the u sefulness of the chromotropic acid method and other formaldehyde or am ine derivatization methods. The methods evaluated included formaldehyd e derivatization with chromotropic acid, acetylacetone, 4-amino-5-hydr azino-3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole, semicarbazide hydrochloride, or 2,4-d initrophenylhydrazine and taurolidine decomposition product derivatiza tion with dansylchloride or 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole chl oride. Results indicated that the chromotropic acid method provided su fficient selectivity, reproducibility and sensitivity. It was able to quench taurultam decomposition and avoided PVP interference. The metho d was optimized by performance based selection of reagent lots, approp riate reagent storage and preparation, and controlled derivatization c onditions. In conclusion, the optimized chromotropic method was the mo st appropriate method for quantitating taurolidine decomposition. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.