Second Derivative Spectrophotometric Determination of p-Aminophenol in the Presence of Paracetamol

A second derivative spectroscopic method for the determination of p-aminophenol in paracetamol powder is described. Second derivative absorbance (d2A/dλ2) values were measured at 223.8 nm (Δ = 4.2 nm) where p-aminophenol showed derivative responses obeying Beer's Law but paracetamol had negligible derivative absorption. The concentrations of p-aminophenol solutions prepared in 0.1 N HCl (0.12–7.61 mcg/ml), containing constant amounts of paracetamol (20 mcg/ml) related linearly with the d2A/dλ2 values and gave a straight line (r = −0.9999). The method allowed determination of 0.5% to 38% of p-aminophenol in paracetamol without prior separation, it is rapid, precise and accurate.