Pharmaceutical industry is developing with the objective to produce new drugs either by chemical synthesis or by extracting from natural products. Analysis of pharmaceuticals compounds ensures production of an effective, safe, and püre drug. Analysis is important in the following fields:
I) Quality Control: Chemical analysis is done in quality control department to ensure the quality of raw materials, intermediate, and finished products. The final product is tested to ensure that it is composed of essential components within a pre-defined range and it does not contain impurities exceeding the specified limits.
2) Assaying: Analysing the amount of essential components of the raw material helps in the assay of a compound.
3) Identification of Compounds: Analysis helps in detecting the presence or absence of one or more components in the drug. It also determines the nature of the constituents in a sample.
4) Determination of Impurity: Analytical techniques with newly developed instruments are used to detect the traces of impurities at the parts per million (ppm) levels. This also determines the amount of pure component present in the drug substance.
5) Development of New Products: An analytical chemist also plays a role in the development of new products. Analysis is done to ascertain that the mixture is composed of the optimum characteristics for which the product or drug has been developed.
6) Diagnosis: Chemical analysis is required in hospitals to diagnose the cause of any illness and to monitor the patient’s overall condition.
7) Farming: Soil analysis is done to know the amount of essential nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and other trace elements essential for the plant growth. The result of this analysis influences the type and quantity of fertilizer to be used.
8) Standards: In pharmaceutical industries, analysis plays a major role to comply with the standards of safety, potency, and efficacy of drugs. It evaluates the drug samples for their specifications based on various tests.
9) Chemical Research: The data obtained through analysis with the application of analytical chemistry build-up the foundation of chemical research as it is used by every chemist, either directly or indirectly.
10) Medical and Biological Research: Analysis provides information useful for understanding the vital processes. This helps to develop better quality medicines for curing various diseases. Thus, medical and biological research programmes depend on chemical analysis.
11) Maximum Yield: Analytical techniques are applied in industry in quality control and quality assurance to set appropriate experimental conditions so that maximum yield of a particular product can be obtained.
12) Safeguard Public Health: In analytical laboratories the foods, drugs, cosmetics, water supplies, etc. are checked to ensure the safety of public health.
