Chromatography Forum

I am performing some HPLC training on tablets and need a method that is going to be as quick as possible. The following parameters are prefferable:

Active = non pharmaceutical (e.g. just a Vit C tablet or something similar)
Tablets can be dissolved straight into solvent (i.e. no grinding)
Reverse HPLC analysis (pref C18) with UV detection
Short run-time (less than 10 min per sample)

Anyone got any good ideas?

If you don't mind OTC pharmaceuticals, use APC (aspirin / phenacetin / caffeine) tablets (Exedrin or your local drugstore house brand equivalent). Should give 4 peaks (the three listed plus benzoic acid).

You will get problem when using vit C since this substance degraded rapidly in aqueous solution and difficult to retain in general RP18 column.

We're using paracetamol/aspirin/caffeine tablets (similar to Tom's suggestion) in our practical HPLC course (university).

Finished in 7 min, UV at 280 nm, RP 18 column with MeOH/water/acetic acid (400/600/1). Dissolving takes about 1 hour according to the Pharm. Eur.