Determination of Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride in Some Pharmaceutical Drugs by Potentiometric Membrane Sensor Based on Pseudoephedrine–Phosphotungstate Ion Pair

An ion-selective electrode (ISE) was developed for the rapid determination of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (PSEHCl) in pharmaceutical preparations. The electrode incorporates a PVC membrane with a pseudoephedrine–phosphotungstate ion pair complex. The influences of membrane composition, temperature, pH of the test solution, and the interfering ions on the electrode performance were investigated. The sensor exhibits a Nernstian response for pseudoephedrine hydrochloride ions over a relatively wide concentration range (1.0 × 10−1 to 1.0 × 10−5 mol L−1) with a slope of 56.2 ± 0.5 mV per decade at 25°C. It can be used in the pH range 4.0–10.5. The isothermal temperature coefficient of this electrode amounted to 0.0009 V/°C. The membrane sensor was successfully applied to determination of PSEHCl in its tablets and syrup.