The specific aim of this work is to propose a simple, quick, and ruggedness analytical method suitable for quantitative analysis that apply infrared spectroscopy concepts discussed in the Instrumental Analysis course. In the proposed experiment, the quantitative analysis of acetaminophen (ACE) in Panadol tablets is achieved by measuring the peak area between 1495 and 1530 cm–1 assessed by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR). A relative error of determination of less than four percent ( 4%), a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 5.2 and 17.3 mg/mL, respectively can be achieved. The proposed experiment was tested for ruggedness and reliability for a one-year period in the Instrumental Analysis laboratory. The designed experiment provides several advantages; very low amount of waste is generated; it can be run in a single three hours laboratory period, requires low day-to-day budget, and can be easily implemented in most undergraduate instrumental analysis course curriculum. Overall, the students obtain experience with ATR-FTIR, calibration curve manipulation, and statistical analysis.
Santiago-Huertas et al. (Sat,) studied this question.