Reaction Rate Models for the Thermal Decomposition of Ibuprofen Crystals

Abstract

Kinetics of the decomposition of racemic ibuprofen crystals were studied by non-isothermal analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that ibuprofen is thermally stable up to 152.6°C and the initial loss of mass was due to evaporation only. Activation energy, pre-exponential factor, activation entropy and Gibbs free energy for the decomposition of ibuprofen were determined using the integral method of Coats-Redfern (CR). Geometrical contraction models were found to be the best fits. The Arrheinus equation for the thermal decomposition of ibuprofen is k = (1.1 × 107) e–79125/RT sec–1.