A Simple Extraction Method for the Determination of Nicotine from Saliva

Abstract

A simple method is proposed for the determination of nicotine in the saliva of active smokers. Nicotine was extracted from saliva at pH 10 with chloroform and n-hexane (60:40). The organic layer was separated and put it in the centrifuge at 3000 rpm for 3 min and then evaporate at 35 ºC in bath water with sonication. Water molecules were bound using silica gel GF 254 through cartridge solid phase extraction (SPE). Spot test analysis was carried out using cyanogen bromide reagent produces an orange colour which indicates nicotine positive. TLC analysis was carried out to produce qualitative data with an Rf value in general = 0.75. The UV spectroscopic analysis at 260 nm produces the equation = 0.0058x + 0.00342 and R2 = 0.9923. The concentration of nicotine obtained were 2.95, 2.96, 3.08, 3.22 and 2.79 μg/mL respectively.