Zinc Citrate Tablets
DEFINITION
Zinc Citrate Tablets contain NLT 90.0% and NMT 110.0% of the labeled amount of zinc (Zn).
IDENTIFICATION
•  A. The Sample solution for Strength produces line emissions or absorptions at the characteristic wavelengths for zinc.
•  B. Identification Tests—General, Citrate 191
Sample solution:  Transfer a quantity of powdered Tablets, equivalent to about 15 mg of zinc, to a centrifuge tube. Add 2–5 mL of water, sonicate for 1 min, shake, and centrifuge.
Acceptance criteria:  Meets the requirements
STRENGTH
•  Content of Zinc
Method 1 
[Note—A standard stock solution is commercially available at different zinc concentrations, which may be used for preparation of the Standard stock solution. Necessary volumetric adjustment can be made in the Standard solution. Concentrations of the Standard solution and the Sample solution may be modified to fit the linear or working range of the instrument. ]
Standard stock solution:  Dissolve 625 mg of zinc oxide, weighed, and previously ignited to constant weight, in 10 mL of nitric acid, and add water to make 500.0 mL. This solution contains 1000 mg/L of zinc.
Standard solution:  To a 500-mL volumetric flask add 200 mL of water and 10 mL of nitric acid, and mix thoroughly. Pipette 10.0 mL of the Standard stock solution into the volumetric flask, and dilute with water to volume to obtain a solution having a known concentration of about 20 mg/L of zinc.
Sample solution:  Weigh and finely powder NLT 20 Tablets. Transfer weighed portion of the powdered Tablets, equivalent to about 0.1 g of zinc, to a 50-mL flask. Add 10 mL of nitric acid, and heat the solution on a hot plate to boil gently, during which process fuming evolves. Boil the solution for an additional 30 min with constant swirling, during which no fuming should be observed. Cool the solution to room temperature, quantitatively transfer all of the solution to a 500-mL volumetric flask, dilute with water to volume, and mix. Pipette 25.0 mL of this solution into a 250-mL volumetric flask, add 5 mL of nitric acid, dilute with water to volume, mix, and filter.
Inductively coupled plasma system 
Mode:  Atomic emission spectroscopy
Analytical wavelength:  206.20 nm. [Note—The operating conditions may be developed and optimized based on the manufacturer's recommendation. A typical setting includes radio frequency (RF) power of about 1300 watts, argon torch flow of about 15 L/min, argon auxiliary flow of about 0.2 L/min, and a nebulizer flow rate of about 0.8 L/min. ]
Blank:  2% nitric acid solution
Analysis 
Samples:  Standard solutions, Sample solution, and Blank
Calculate the percentage of the labeled amount of zinc (Zn) in the portion of Tablets taken:
Result = (rU/rS) × (CS/CU) × 100
rU== response from the Sample solution
rS== response from the Standard solution
CS== concentration of the Standard solution (mg/L)
CU== nominal concentration of zinc in the Sample solution (mg/L)
Acceptance criteria:  90.0%–110.0%
Method 2 
Standard stock solution A:  1000 µg/mL of zinc from zinc oxide in 5 M hydrochloric acid (3.89 mg/mL) and diluted with water to final volume. [Note—Dissolve in 5 M hydrochloric acid by warming, if necessary. Cool, and then dilute to final volume. ]
Standard stock solution B:  50 µg/mL of zinc from Standard stock solution A diluted with 0.125 N hydrochloric acid
Standard solutions:  Transfer 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 mL of Standard stock solution B to separate 100-mL volumetric flasks. Dilute the contents of each flask with 0.125 N hydrochloric acid to volume to obtain concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 µg/mL of zinc.
Sample solution:  Finely powder NLT 20 tablets. Transfer an equivalent to 5 tablets to a porcelain crucible. Heat the crucible in a muffle furnace maintained at 550 for 6–12 h, and cool. Add 60 mL of hydrochloric acid, and boil gently on a hot plate or steam bath for 30 min, intermittently rinsing the inner surface of the crucible with 6 N hydrochloric acid. Cool, and quantitatively transfer the contents of the crucible to a 100-mL volumetric flask. Rinse the crucible with small portions of 6 N hydrochloric acid, and add the rinsings to the flask. Dilute with water to volume, and filter, discarding the first 5 mL of the filtrate. Dilute this solution quantitatively, with 0.125 N hydrochloric acid to obtain a nominal concentration of 2 µg/mL of zinc.
Instrumental conditions 
Mode:  Atomic absorption spectrophotometry
Analytical wavelength:  213.8 nm
Lamp:  Zinc hollow-cathode
Flame:  Air–acetylene
Blank:  0.125 N hydrochloric acid
Analysis 
Samples:  Standard solutions and Sample solution
Determine the absorbances of the solutions against the Blank. Plot the absorbances of the Standard solutions versus the concentration, in µg/mL, of zinc, and draw the straight line best fitting the five plotted points. From the graph so obtained, determine the concentration, C, in µg/mL, of zinc in the Sample solution.
Calculate the percentage of the labeled amount of zinc (Zn) in the portion of Tablets taken:
Result = (C/CU) × 100
C== determined concentration of zinc in the Sample solution (µg/mL)
CU== nominal concentration of zinc in the Sample solution (µg/mL)
Acceptance criteria:  90.0%–110.0%
PERFORMANCE TESTS
•  Disintegration and Dissolution 2040
Medium:  Water; 900 mL
Apparatus 2:  75 rpm
Time:  60 min
Analysis:  Proceed as directed in Method 1 or Method 2 for Strength, making any necessary volumetric adjustments.
Sample solution:  If Method 1 is used, pipet 10.0 mL of the filtered pooled solution under test to a 50-mL volumetric flask, and dilute with 2% nitric acid solution to 50 mL. If Method 2 is used, dilute the filtered pooled solution under test with 0.125 N hydrochloric acid to a concentration falling within the range of the Standard solutions.
Calculate the percentage of the labeled amount of zinc (Zn) dissolved:
Result = C × (VM/a) × (D/L) × 100
C== concentration of zinc in the Sample solution (mg/L)
VM== volume of Medium, 900 mL
a== aliquot of solution under test (mL)
D== dilution factor to prepare the Sample solution from the aliquot taken
L== label claim (mg/Tablet)
Tolerances:  NLT 75% of the labeled amount of zinc is dissolved.
•  Weight Variation 2091: Meet the requirements
SPECIFIC TESTS
•  Microbial Enumeration Tests 2021: The total aerobic microbial count does not exceed 103 cfu/g, and the total combined yeast and mold count does not exceed 102 cfu/g.
•  Absence of Specified Microorganisms 2022: It meets the requirements of the test for absence of Escherichia coli.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
•  Packaging and Storage: Preserve in well-closed containers.
•  Labeling: The label states the quantity of zinc in terms of mg/Tablet.
Auxiliary Information— Please check for your question in the FAQs before contacting USP.
Topic/Question Contact Expert Committee
Monograph Natalia Davydova
Scientific Liaison
1-301-816-8328
(DS2010) Monographs - Dietary Supplements
2021 Radhakrishna S Tirumalai, Ph.D.
Principal Scientific Liaison
1-301-816-8339
(GCM2010) General Chapters - Microbiology
2022 Radhakrishna S Tirumalai, Ph.D.
Principal Scientific Liaison
1-301-816-8339
(GCM2010) General Chapters - Microbiology
USP35–NF30 Page 1663
Pharmacopeial Forum: Volume No. 34(2) Page 316