Purification of Raw Surface Water Using Electro-Coagulation Method

The purification of raw surface water from its organic, inorganic and microbial content using the electro-coagulation method was investigated. Batch coagulation experiments were conducted using the jar-test method. A pair of aluminum electrodes (suspended in the jar) was charged with low voltage current for releasing aluminum ions in the raw water to precipitate the suspended matter. The optimum current density was 0.6325 mA cm^–2. The coagulation efficiency was evaluated by determining the turbidity of treated water. The efficiency reduction in raw water turbidity was 90%, leading to a change in water Zeta potential from –85 mV (before treatment) to –40 mV (after treatment), i.e. the particles tended to be destabilized and the coagulation process became predominant. Water contents of nitrates, phosphates and sulfates were considerably reduced by 77.5, 83.3 and 20.0%, respectively. Also, this method is effective in reducing both the total viable bacterial count (TVBC) and total coliforms (TC) by a ratio of 1/10⁴ and 1/10³, respectively.     

Colorimetric and spectrophotometric determination of total and non-phenolic alkaloids in ipeca and its formulations.

A simple method, requiring no chromatographic separation, is presented for the determination of the total and non-phenolic alkaloids in ipeca and its preparations. The complex formed between the alkaloid and methyl orange at pH 5.0 is extracted with chloroform and treated with 0.1N NaOH. The liberated dye, determined at 460 nm, is a measure of the total alkaloids. The chloroform phase remaining is treated with 0.1N H2SO4, and the acid extract is measured at 283 nm for the non-phenolic alkaloids, calculated as emetine. The proposed method was successfully applied to samples of ipeca powder, ipeca tincture, and 3 British Pharmaceutical Codex mixtures containing ipeca tincture, namely, ipecacuanha mixture, pediatric; ipecacuanha and ammonia mixture, pediatric; and belladonna and ipecacuanha mixture, pediatric. The proposed method compares favorably with the Egyptian Pharmacopoeia, British Pharmacopoeia, and USP methods and has a relative standard deviation of 1.54%. The present procedure is less time-consuming and requires about 45 and 90 min for the assay of ipeca tincture and powder, respectively. Only a small sample (0.2 mL tincture of 1.0 g powder) is required.     

Spectrophotometric determination of strychnine and brucine in liquid galenicals.

A rapid method is presented for determining strychnine and brucine in liquid galenicals. At pH 5.0, both strychnine and brucine are complexed with methyl orange. After treatment with 0.1N NaOH, the liberated alkaloids are determined spectrophotometrically, using the 2-wavelength method of analysis. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of 4 batches of nux vomica tincture, nux vomica acid, and nux vomica alkaline mixtures. The method has a relative standard deviation of 0.52%.