Simultaneous Determination of Aneurin and Nicotinamide Methochloride

Abstract

NICOTINAMIDE methochloride, the principal urinary derivative of nicotinamide, nicotinic acid and nikethamide, can be estimated in urine by adsorption on 'Decalso', elution with potassium chloride and extraction of the eluate with alkaline isobutanol¹. By this procedure the methochloride is converted into a whitish fluorescent derivative, F₂, the concentration of which is estimated fluorimetrically. Aneurin is also estimated in urine by adsorption with 'Decalso', elution with potassium chloride and extraction of the eluate with isobutanol after the addition of alkali and potassium ferricyanide². The thiochrome thus formed is estimated fluorimetrically in much the same manner as that employed for F₂. It has been found, however, that pure aqueous solutions of nicotinamide methochloride are also converted into a deep blue fluorescent pigment closely resembling thiochrome by alkaline-ferrieyanide-isobutanol treatment³. In other words, the methochloride may be converted into the whitish fluorescent pigment F₂ by alkali and isobutanol alone, or into a deep blue fluorescent pigment by alkali, isobutanol and ferricyanide.