THE POLAROGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF SANTONIN IN MIXTURES

A simple method for the determination of santonin in mixture is proposed: 1. Dissolve about 15 mg of santonin in 25 ml of absolute alcohol. To 4 ml of this solution add 4 ml of 0.2M CaCl₂·2H₂O solution, 2 ml of 0.05% gelatin solution and 2 ml of water. Place this solution in polarographic cell, pass hydrogen gas for 15 minutes to remove dissolved oxygen and determine polarographically. This method can be applied for assaying satonin tablets or tablets of santonin and mercurous chloride directly. 2. For the determination of santonin when mixed with phenolphthalein, sucrose, lactose, or coca, the sample is extracted with chloroform. Wash the chloroform extract with 5% Na₂CO₃ solution. Remove the solvent and dissolve the residue in 25 ml absolute alcohol. Four ml of 0.2M CaCl₂·2H₂O solution, ml of 0.05% gelatin solution and 2 ml of water are added to 4 ml of the alcoholic solution. The mixture is made oxygen free and the santonin is determined polaro- graphically.