Objective: To identify different kinds of sulfate mineral medicines by infrared spectrum and provide the reference to regulate quality control. Method: Six different kinds of sulfate mineral medicines (plaster

glauber's salt

alum

Natrii Sulfas Exsiccatus

Calcined Gypsum and Withered Alum) on Chinese Pharmacopoeia were identified with the use of FTIR

and their similarities and differences in the infrared spectrum were compared and analyzed by infrared spectrum scanning between 400 and 4 000 cm-1;infrared spectrum was measured and compared for Natrii Sulfas Exsiccatus and Sodium sulfate anhydrous. Result: Between 400 and 4 000 cm-1

infrared spectrum has similarities because all of them are sulfate mineral medicines;however

due to the differences of forming mechanism

ions

peak shape

peak number and transmittance rate

infrared can be used to identify the different kinds of sulfate mineral medicines. There was difference in derivative infrared spectrum between Natrii Sulfas Exsiccatus and Sodium sulfate anhydrous. Conclusion: The method is simple

convenient

and provides certain reference for the market supervision of mineral medicines and even traditional Chinese medicinal materials.