Development and validation of analytical methodology with focus on the qualification of powder mixers

This study aims at developing an analytical procedure capable of quantifying the ferric oxide present in the mixture of ferric oxide/lactose monohydrate (0.4% w/w). The analytical procedure was checked for specificity, linearity, precision (system repeatability, procedure repeatability and intermediate precision), accuracy, stability of solutions and robustness of the procedure. The concentration of Fe (III) was determined by spectrophotometry at 480 nm based on calibration curves. The specificity was verified. The linearity was obtained in the range of 11.2 to 16.8 µg of ferric oxide/mL. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the system repeatability, procedure repeatability and intermediate precision, were not more than 2%. The RSD of the accuracy values were less than 0.75%. The stability of the samples was checked over a 24 hours assay. In the robustness evaluation, the wavelength and the concentration of hydrochloric acid varied. The maximum absorbance deviation due to wavelength variation was 0.14 percent, and the maximum deviation due to the hydrochloric acid concentration variation was 2.4%, indicating that the concentration of hydrochloric acid is critical to the analysis of ferric oxide. The procedure developed was validated and is suitable to the performance qualification of powder mixers.