Thermal behavior of drugs

Data on the thermal stability of drugs was required to obtain information for handling, storage, shelf life and usage. In this study, the thermal stability of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and simultaneous thermogravimetery/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) techniques. The results of TG analysis revealed that the main thermal degradation for the naproxen and celecoxib occurs in the temperature ranges of 196–300 and 245–359 °C, respectively. The TG/DTA analysis of compounds indicates that naproxen melts (at about 158.1 °C) before it decomposes. However, the thermal decomposition of the celecoxib started about 185 °C after its melting. The influence of the heating rate (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min⁻¹) on the DSC behavior of the both drug samples was verified. The results showed that, as the heating rate was increased, decomposition temperatures of the compounds were increased. Also, the kinetic parameters such as activation energy and frequency factor for the compounds were obtained from the DSC data by non-isothermal methods proposed by ASTM E696 and Ozawa. Based on the values of activation energy obtained by various methods, the following order for the thermal stability was noticed: naproxen > celecoxib. Finally, the values of ΔS ^#, ΔH ^#, and ΔG ^# of their decomposition reaction were calculated.     

Non-isothermal kinetic studies on thermal decomposition of energetic materials

Thermal stability and decomposition kinetics for two energetic materials, potassium nitroform (KNF) and 5-Nitro-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one (NTO), were investigated to obtain information on their safety for handling, storage, and use. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) techniques have been used to study thermal behavior of these energetic compounds. The results of TG analysis revealed that the main thermal degradation for the KNF occurs during two temperature ranges of 270?C330 and 360?C430?°C. Meanwhile, NTO decomposes completely in temperature range of 250?C300 °C. TG-DTA analysis of KNF indicates that this energetic compound dehydrated (at about 108?°C) before its decomposition. However, NTO is thermally stable until its decomposition. The decomposition kinetic of energetic materials was studied by non-isothermal DSC under various heating rates. Kinetic parameters such as activation energy and frequency factor for thermal decomposition of energetic compounds were obtained via the methods proposed by ASTM E696 and Starink. Also, thermodynamic parameters correspond to the activation of thermal decomposition and critical ignition temperatures of the compounds were obtained.     

Studies on the thermal behavior and decomposition kinetic of drugs cetirizine and simvastatin

Understanding the response of drugs and their formulations to thermal stresses is an integral part of the development of stable medicinal products. In the present study, the thermal degradation of two drug samples (cetirizine and simvastatin) was determined by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) and simultaneous thermogravimetery/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) techniques. The results of TG analysis revealed that the main thermal degradation for the cetirizine occurs during two temperature ranges of 165–227 and 247–402 °C. The TG/DTA analysis of simvastatin indicates that this drug melts (at about 143 °C) before it decomposes. The main thermal degradation for the simvastatin occurs during two endothermic behaviors in the temperature ranges of 238–308 and 308–414 °C. The influence of the heating rate (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1) on the DSC behavior of both the drug samples was verified. The results showed that as the heating rate was increased, decomposition temperatures of the compounds were increased. Also, the kinetic parameters such as activation energy and frequency factor for the compounds were obtained from the DSC data by non-isothermal methods proposed by ASTM E696 and Ozawa. Based on the values of activation energy obtained by ASTM E696 method, the values of activation energy for cetirizine and simvastatin were 120.8 and 170.9 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Finally, the values of ΔS ^#, ΔH ^#, and ΔG ^# of their decomposition reaction were calculated.     

Thermal decomposition and kinetics studies on the 2,2-dinitropropyl acrylate–styrene copolymer and 2,2-dinitropropyl acrylate–vinyl acetate copolymer

In the present work, kinetics of thermal decomposition of 2,2-dinitropropyl acrylate–styrene copolymer (DNPA/St) and 2,2-dinitropropyl acrylate–vinyl acetate copolymer (DNPA/VAc) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The influence of the heating rate (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1) on the DSC behavior of the copolymer was verified. The results showed that, as the heating rate was increased, decomposition temperature of the copolymer was increased. Also, the kinetic parameters such as activation energy and frequency factor of the copolymer were obtained from the DSC data by the isoconversional methods proposed by Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO). Average activation energy obtained by KAS and FWO methods for the thermal decomposition reaction of DNPA/St and DNPA/VAc are 157.38 ± 0.27 and 147.67 ± 0.57 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The rate constants for thermal decomposition calculated from the activation parameters showed the structural dependency. The relative stability of two copolymers under 50 °C was in this order: DNPA/St > DNPA/VAc. The results of thermogravimetry (TG) analysis revealed that the main mass changes for DNPA/St and DNPA/VAc occurred in the temperature ranges of 200–270 °C. The DSC-FTIR analysis of DNPA/St indicates that the band intensity of nitro and other groups increased haphazardly from 230 °C due to thermal decomposition.     

Thermal kinetic studies on the decompositions of cefuroxime lysine in different atmospheres and heating rates

The thermal decomposition of a new antibiotic agent, cefuroxime lysine, was investigated by thermogravimetry analysis/derivative thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods in anoxic and oxidative environments. The influence of heating rates (including 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min) on the thermal behavior of cefuroxime lysine was revealed. By the methods of Kissinger and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, the thermal kinetic parameters of activation energy and pre-exponential factor for the exothermic processes under non-isothermal conditions were calculated using the analysis of corresponding DSC curves.     

Simulation of the thermal degradation and curing kinetics of fly ash reinforced diglycidyl ether bisphenol A composite

Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) is concluding expanding applicability in determination of the thermal stability and degradation nature of materials. The present study investigates the thermal degradation behavior and the kinetics of degradation of epoxy mixed with varying percentages of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 ​wt% fly ash. Thermal stability and degradation behavior of fly ash modified epoxy cast were determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The kinetic parameters of the EF composites were calculated by using Coats–Redfern, Broido and Horowitz–Metzger models under best-fit analysis and further proved by linear regression analysis. The kinetics of thermal degradation was calculated from data scanned at a heating rate of 10 ​°C/min. The obtained results reveal that kinetic parameters and thermal behavior of EF composites were improved with the reinforcement of fly ash. The cure kinetics of the varying content of fly ash reinforced epoxy cast were also studied by using a nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) technique at four different heating rates 5 ​°C/min, 10 ​°C/min, 15 ​°C/min and 20 ​°C/min. The curing kinetics of the EF composite was derived from the nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data with the three Kissinger, Ozawa, and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa models, respectively.     

Influence of the Heating Rate in the Thermal Decomposition of HMX

This work refers to a study of the thermal decomposition of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7 tetrazocine (HMX) by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in non-isothermal conditions, with heating rates from1 to 25°C min⁻¹. The influence of the heating rate, the particle and the sample size were verified. The activation energy was calculated using the peak temperature shift method, proposed by Ozawa and a significant variation in the results was observed according to the range of the used heating rates. As the heating rate was increased, different conversions and self-heating effects were observed at the respective DSC peaks, indicating that the use of this method was inadequate and it may lead to incorrect results, which, in turn, could explain the wide range of activation energy values published in literature. At lower heating rates HMX decomposition occurs on the solid state and at higher ones decomposition occurs after melting practically at the same temperature, which does not depend on the heating rate. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal behavior of loratadine

Simultaneous thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques were used for the characterization the thermal degradation of loratadine, ethyl-4-(8-chloro-5,6-dihydro-11H-benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridin-11-ylidine)-1-piperidinecarboxylate. TG analysis revealed that the thermal decomposition occurs in one step in the 200–400°C range in nitrogen atmosphere. DTA and DSC curves showed that loratadine melts before the decomposition and the decomposition products are volatile in nitrogen. In air the decomposition follows very similar profile up to 300°C, but two exothermic events are observed in the 170–680°C temperature range. Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method was used for the solid-state kinetic analysis of loratadine thermal decomposition. The calculated activation energy (E _a) was 91±1 kJ mol^–1 for α between 0.02 and 0.2, where the mass loss is mainly due to the decomposition than to the evaporation of the decomposition products.     

Kinetic investigation on thermal decomposition of organophosphorous compounds

In this paper, the thermal behaviours of two organophosphorous compounds, N,N-dimethyl-N′,N′-diphenylphosphorodihydrazidic (NDD) and diphenyl amidophosphate (DPA), were studied by thermogravimetery (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) techniques under non-isothermal conditions. The results showed that NDD melts about 185 °C before it decomposes. NDD decomposition occurs in two continuous steps, in the 190–410 °C temperature range. First thermal degradation stage for NDD results a broad exothermic peak in the DTA curve that is continued with a small exothermic peak at the end of decomposition process. On the other hand, applying TG-DTA techniques indicates that DPA melts about 150 °C before it decomposes. This compound decomposes in the temperature range of 230 to 330 °C in two steps. These steps are endothermic and exothermic, respectively. Activation energy and pre-exponential factor for the first step of decomposition of each compound were found by means of Kissinger method and were verified by Ozawa–Flynn–Wall method. Activation energy obtained by Kissinger method for the first stage of NDD and DPA decompositions are 138 and 170 KJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Finally, the thermodynamic parameters (ΔG ^#, ΔH ^# and ΔS ^#) for first step decomposition of investigated organophosphorous were determined.     

Research of thermal decomposition kinetic characteristic of emulsion explosive base containing Fe and Mn elements

The kinetic characteristic of thermal decomposition of the Emulsion Explosive Base Containing Fe and Mn elements (EEBCFM) which was used to prepare nano-MnFe₂O₄ particles via detonation method was investigated by means of non-isothermal DSC and TG methods at various heating rates of 2.5, 5 and 7.5°C min⁻¹respectively under the atmosphere of dynamic air from room temperature to 400°C. The results indicated that the EEBCFM was sensitive to temperature, especially to heating rate and could decompose at the temperature up to 60°C. The maximum speed of decomposition (dα/dT)_m at the heating rate of 5 and 7.5°C min⁻¹ was more than 10 times of that at 2.5°C min⁻¹ and nearly 10 times of that of the second-category coal mine permitted commercial emulsion explosive (SCPCEE). The plenty of metal ions could seriously reduce the thermal stability of emulsion explosive, and the decomposition reaction in the conversion degree range of 0.0∼0.6 was most probably controlled by nucleation and growth mechanism and the mechanism function could be described with Avrami-Erofeev equation with n=2. When the fractional extent of reaction α>0.6, the combustion of oil phase primarily controlled the decomposition reaction.     

Preparation of high temperature resistance polybenzimidazole resin

Polybenzimidazole’s (PBI) was synthesized from 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and adipic acid by melting copolycondensation. Its thermal properties have been studied The molecular structure and thermal stability of the resulting polymers were characterized by means of FTIR, TGA and DSC. The results indicate that the melting temperature of the PBI is higher than 400°C and the polymer possesses excellent thermal stability. The onset decomposition temperature was determined to be 516°C, and the highest decomposition temperature reaches 536°C. __________ Translated from Journal of Xihua University (Natural Science Edition), 2008, 27 (1) (in Chinese)     

Thermoanalytical Studies of Polyaniline ‘Emeraldine base’

The thermal behaviour of polyaniline-‘emeraldine base’ (PANI-EB) was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We assume that during heating over 150°C three exothermal processes proceed - reorganization and crosslinking between PANI-EB chains followed by post-polymerization. The low temperature relaxation transition for PANI-EB was registered for the first time by DSC. We suppose that it might be due to the motion of polymer chains non-crosslinked during the first heating, chain fragments resulting from high-temperature decomposition over 300°C and chain ends of the already crosslinked polymer. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal analysis of ammonium,mono-, di- and triethanolammonium alginates

Thermal behaviour of ammonium (NH₄alg), mono- (MEAalg), di- (DEAalg) and triethanolammonium (TEAalg) salts of alginic acid (Halg) was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Salts were prepared by the direct reaction of alginic acid with the ammonium hydroxide and with the respective ethanolamines. After preparation the compounds were lyophilized during 24 h and characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and elemental analysis (C, H and N). Under air the compounds exhibited three successive thermal decomposition steps: dehydration, decomposition of the polymeric matrix and finally, burning of carbonaceous residue. Under nitrogen two steps (dehydration and decomposition) were observed. The stability order of this series of compounds was: TEAalg this series of compounds was: TEAalg<DEAalg<NH₄alg<Halg≈MEAalg. DSC curves between –50 and 150°C did not show any thermal events suggesting that after lyophilization probably non-freezing type water is present in the system.     

Thermal investigation of strontium acetate hemihydrate in nitrogen gas

The thermal decomposition of strontium acetate hemihydrate has been studied by TG-DTA/DSC and TG coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) under non-isothermal conditions in nitrogen gas from ambient temperature to 600°C. The TG-DTA/DSC experiments indicate the decomposition goes mainly through two steps: the dehydration and the subsequent decomposition of anhydrous strontium acetate into strontium carbonate. TG-FTIR analysis of the evolved products from the non-oxidative thermal degradation indicates mainly the release of water, acetone and carbon dioxide. The model-free isoconversional methods are employed to calculate the E _a of both steps at different conversion α from 0.1 to 0.9 with increment of 0.05. The relative constant apparent E _a values during dehydration (0.5<α<0.9) of strontium acetate hemihydrate and decomposition of anhydrous strontium acetate (0.5<α<0.9) suggest that the simplex reactions involved in the corresponding thermal events. The most probable kinetic models during dehydration and decomposition have been estimated by means of the master plots method.     

Thermal decomposition of methylxanthines

The thermal decomposition of theophylline, theobromine, caffeine, diprophylline and aminophylline were evaluated by calorimetrical, thermoanalytical and computational methods. Calorimetrical studies have been performed with aid of a heat flux Mettler Toledo DSC system. 10 mg samples were encapsulated in a 40 μL flat-bottomed aluminium pans. Measurements in the temperature range form 20 to 400°C were carried out at a heating rate of 10 and 20°C min⁻¹ under an air stream. It has been established that the values of melting points, heat of transitions and enthalpy for methylxanthines under study varied with the increasing of heating rate. Thermoanalytical studies have been followed by using of a derivatograph. 50, 100 and 200 mg samples of the studied compounds were heated in a static air atmosphere at a heating rate of 3, 5, 10 and 15°C min⁻¹ up to the final temperature of 800°C. By DTA, TG and DTG methods the influence of heating rate and sample size on thermal destruction of the studied methylxanthines has been determined. For chemometric evaluation of thermoanalytical results the principal component analysis (PCA) was applied. This method revealed that first of all the heating rate influences on the results of thermal decomposition. The most advantageous results can be obtained taking into account sample masses and heating rates located in the central part of the two-dimensional PCA graph. As a result, similar data could be obtained for 100 mg samples heated at 10°C·min⁻¹ and for 200 mg samples heated at 5°C min⁻¹.     

Study of the Thermal Stability Properties of Pyridoxine Using Thermogravimetric Analysis

The thermal decomposition behavior and kinetics of pyridoxine in nitrogen-only and air atmospheres were studied using thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). Kinetic interpretation of thermal analysis data for pyridoxine decomposition was carried out using Ozawa and ASTM E698 isoconversional methods. The activation energy of the decomposition process varied with the degree of decomposition and was different in the nitrogen and air atmospheres. At a 5% decomposition level, the activation energy and the pre-exponential factor were found to be 28.3 kcal mol^?1 and 1.2 × 10¹⁴ min^?1, respectively, in the nitrogen-only atmosphere. Thermal stability was determined by calculating the time for 5% of the pyridoxine vitamer to decompose at 25°C. The calculated shelf life for the pyridoxine vitamer obtained via TGA was surprisingly smaller in nitrogen (0.9 years) than in air (1.5 years). This is speculated to be the result of a more complex decomposition mechanism in air, involving thermo-oxidative decomposition in the presence of oxygen.     

Thermal behaviour and kinetic study of some triazoles as potential anti-inflammatory agents

Thermogravimetric (TG), differential thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry had been used to characterize the thermal stability of four new heterocyclic compounds with triazolic structure. The four analysed compounds have similar thermal behaviours, namely the thermal mal curves of these new compounds show three thermal events. These compounds were thermally stable up to 110 °C. Above this temperature, the evolution of hydrochloric acid took place as observed by EGA. Identification and the monitoring of gaseous species released during thermal decomposition of pure triazoles in air atmosphere have been carried out by coupled TG–FTIR. Between 110 and 220 °C the main gaseous product is HCl which was identified on the basis of these FTIR spectra. Arguments for a rapid thermooxidation of the four molecules were brought by EGA by identifying the substances which arise from both the destruction of side chains and of triazolic ring. The kinetic analysis of the destruction process of triazolic structure was investigated using the TG data in air for the substance’s decomposition in non-isothermal conditions. The isoconversional methods, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Friedman, were applied to determine the activation energy from the analysis of four curves measured at different heating rates. In order to obtain realistic kinetic parameters, even if the decomposition process is a complex one, the non-parametric kinetics method was also used. A good agreement between the data obtained from the four applied methods was found.     

New Regional Editor

Thermal decomposition of an agrowaste, namely banana trunk fibers (BTF) were investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) up to 900 °C at different heating rates (from 5 to 100 °C/min). The BTF was subjected to modification by means of various known chemical methods (mercerization, acetylation, peroxide treatment, esterification, and sulfuric acid treatment). Various degradation models, such as the Kissinger, Friedman, and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa were used to determine the apparent activation energy. The obtained apparent activation energy values (149–210 kJ/mol) allow in developing a simplified approach to understand the thermal decomposition behavior of natural fibers as a function of polymer composite processing.     

Principal component analysis of thermal decomposition of magnesium salts used as drugs

Thermal decomposition of magnesium salts of organic acids used in medicine (Mg acetate, Mg valproate, Mg lactate, Mg citrate, Mg hydrogen aspartate, Zn hydrogen aspartate) was analyzed by thermoanalytical, calorimetrical, and computational methods. Thermoanalytical studies were performed with aid of a derivatograph. 50-, 100-, and 200-mg samples were heated in a static air atmosphere at a heating rate of 3, 5, 10, and 15 °C min⁻¹ up to the final temperature of 700–900 °C. By differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetry (TG), and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) methods, it has been established that thermal decomposition of the salts under study occurs via two stages. The first stage (dehydratation) was distinctly marked on the thermoanalytical curves. Calorimetrical studies were carried out by using of a heat-flux Mettler Toledo differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) system. Ten milligram samples of compounds under study were heated in the temperature range from 20 to 400 °C at a heating rate of 10 and 20 °C min⁻¹ under an air stream. The studies showed that the values of transitions heats and enthalpies of dehydration for investigated salts varied with the increasing of heating rate. For chemometric evaluation of thermoanalytical results, the principal component analysis (PCA) was applied. This method revealed that points on PC1 versus PC2 diagrams corresponding to the compounds of similar chemical constitution are localized in the similar ranges of the first two PC’s values. This proves that thermal decomposition reflects similarity in the structure of magnesium salts of organic acids.     

Thermal characterization of antimicrobial drug ornidazole and its compatibility in a solid pharmaceutical product

The ornidazole drug substance presents melt at approximately 90 °C (∆T = 85–98 °C), which is critical for its use on pharmaceutical manufacturing process. This work aimed the thermal characterization of ornidazole raw-material synthesized by three different manufacturers from India, China, and Italy, using the thermoanalytical techniques of DTA, DSC, and TG, besides the verification of its stability and compatibility as a solid pharmaceutical product by the analysis of its binary mixtures (BM) with excipients and a tablet formulation. The characterization includes the thermal decomposition kinetic investigation by Ozawa model using Arrhenius equation and drug purity determination by Van’t Hoff equation. The DSC purity determination and precision were compared with results from UV–Vis spectrophotometric and liquid chromatography, showing an adequate correlation before being recommended as a general method for purity assay. The drug raw-materials presented similar quality and zero-order kinetic behavior, besides showing differences on thermal stability. The drug presented compatibility with the tested excipients since the BM studied presented melting at the same temperature range as the drug and a decomposition temperature similar to the drug for two of the BM, and at a higher temperature for the others three of the BM evaluated, which presented excipients with higher molecular structure, capable of spatial coating on the small drug molecule promoting a physical interaction pharmaceutical acceptable. The tablet was processed by wet granulation and compressed under normal conditions of pressure and temperature, maintaining the physical properties of solid drug approving the manufacturing process used. In this study, the thermal analysis was used with success as an alternative method to characterize, quantify, and perform a preformulation study.