Validation of a UPLC-PDA method to study the content and stability of 5-chloro 8-hydroxyquinoline and 5,7-dichloro 8-hydroxyquinoline in medicated feed used in swine farming.

A new, rapid, simple and specific method to determine 5-chloro 8-hydroxyquinoline (5-HQ) and 5,7-dichloro 8-hydroxyquinoline (5,7-HQ) stability in swine feed was optimized and validated. A system consisting of an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (1.7 μm, 2.1 mm × 100 mm), a mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% o-phosphoric acid (55:45 v/v) with a 0.5 mL/min flow rate, and a PDA detector (247 nm) were used. The retention times of 5-HQ and 5,7-HQ, were 0.77 min and 1.6 min, respectively. The pure drug was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, chemical oxidation and UV light degradation to perform forced degradation studies. 5,7-HQ was more susceptible to degradation than 5-HQ. The figures of merit of the method (linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness) were determined. The method was successfully applied to estimate the stability of both analytes in medicated feed.