A rapid method for the simultaneous determination of l-ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid in aspirin C effervescent tablet by ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

In present study, a rapid and sensitive method using ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of l-ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid in aspirin C effervescent tablet. The optimum chromatographic separation was carried out on a reversed phase Waters® Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (1.7 μm particle size, 100 mm × 2.1 mm ID) with an isocratic elution profile and mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile (75:25, v/v, pH 3.5) at flow rate of 0.5 mL min−1. The influences of mobile phase composition, flow rate and pH on chromatographic resolution were investigated. The total chromatographic analysis time was as short as 2 min with excellent resolution. Detection and quantification of the target compounds were carried out with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using negative electrospray ionization (ESI) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes. The performance of the method was evaluated and very low limits of detection less than 0.09 μg g−1, excellent coefficient correlation (r2 > 0.999) with liner range over a concentration range of 0.1–1.0 μg g−1 for both l-ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid, and good intraday and interday precisions (relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) <3%), were obtained. Comparison of system performance with traditional liquid chromatography–photo diode array detector (HPLC–PDA) was made with respect to analysis time, sensitivity, linearity and precisions. The proposed UPLC–MS/MS method was found to be reproducible and appropriate for quantitative analysis of l-ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid in aspirin C effervescent tablet.

UPLC–MS/MS chromatogram of studied compounds (a) l-ascorbic acid and (b) acetylsalicylic acid in aspirin C effervescent tablet.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► UPLC–MS/MS method was developed for analysis of l-ascorbic and acetylsalicylic acid.
► The method was applied to the aspirin C effervescent tablet.
► Method was reproducible and suitable for quantitative analysis of AA and ASA.
► Comparison of UPLC–MS/MS performance with HPLC–PDA was studied.