Primary nucleation of paracetamol in acetone-water mixtures

• The influence of solvent composition on primary nucleation of 4-hydroxyacetanilide (paracetamol) in acetone-water mixtures is investigated. The induction time for primary nucleation is determined, at various degrees of supersaturation and at different temperatures, in different solvent mixture compositions. Supersaturation is generated by the addition of water. and the homogeneous, agitated, isothermal solution is allowed to nucleate. The supersaturation driving force is calculated as the difference in the chemical potential. At equal thermodynamic driving force, the induction time depends on the composition of the solvent mixture. The interfacial energy is in the range 1-3 mJ/m(2) and tends to increase with decreasing solubility, i.e. increasing water content. The interfacial energy is slightly lower than a value calculated from a contact angle measurement (5 mJ/m(2)) in pure water and is significantly lower than values predicted by equations derived From simplified theories.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Fysikalisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Physical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

paracetamol

solvent composition

nucleation

chemical potential driving force

surface energy

interfacial energy

interfacial-tensions

aqueous-solutions

crystallization

supersaturation

precipitation

solubility

substances

binary

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)