Feasibility of lovastatin analysis by packed column supercritical fluid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

A reliable supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) method was developed fo r the analysis of lovastatin, a hypocholesterolaemic drug, from MEVACOR(R). Methanol-modified carbon dioxide was shown to elute the drug, and its dehy drolovastatin and hydroxy acid lovastatin degradation products from a Hyper sil(R) silica column. However, the hydroxy acid lovastatin was found to tai l in this mobile phase. The phenomena was eliminated by the addition of tri fluoroacetic acid [Haouck, S. Thomas, D. K. Ellison, Talanta 40 (1993) 491] to the mobile phase which permitted the drug and its two main degradation products to all elute from the Hypersil(R) silica column in under 6 min wit h symmetrical peak shape. Chromatographic limit of detection (LOD) and limi t of quantification (LOQ), linear dynamic range (LDR), and injection precis ion were obtained in order to assess the chromatographic performance of the SFC system for the lovastatin separation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.