Forced Degradation Studies on Sodium Picosulfate and Separation of 15 Process Related Impurities/Degradants by HPLC

A selective, precise and stability-indicating, high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the analysis of active ingredient sodium Picosulfate and forced degradation behavior was studied. The current article describes forced degradation behavior of the Sodium Picosulfate drug substance in detail by analyzing 15 process related/degradants in a single HPLC method under ICH recommended stressed conditions. Mobile phase comprised of 0.01 M of Disodium hydrogen phosphate and 0.01 M of potassium phosphate monobasic buffer and 1 mL of triethyl amine in 1000 mL water adjusted to pH 7.5 with 10% phosphoric acid. Acetonitrile was used as Mobile Phase B. The separation was achieved on a gradient method. The reversed phase chromatography was performed in Hypersil BDS C18 5.0 μm, 4.6 × 250 mm column maintained at temperature 35°C. Injection volume was 60 μL. Milli-Q water used as diluent. The mobile phase was pumped at 0.9 mL/min-1. The eluted compounds were monitored at 220 nm. Secondary wavelength of the 263 nm was studied to check any further degradants during the forced degradation studies. New additional degradants Sodium Picosulfate Benzyl alcohol Impurity and N oxide degradations were discussed and studied during the forced degradation to understand the chemical stability of the drug substance.