Authors : S.O. Okeniyi , J.A. Kolawole , M.T. Odunola , O.A. Babatunde and J.T. Bamgbose
Abstract: Aqueous solution of chloramphenicol, plain and ophthalmic preparations were exposed to sunlight, ultraviolet radiation at 365 mm wavelength and red light for varying length of time. The kinetics of decomposition was studied using TLC techniques and U.V. Spectrophotometric methods of analysis of chloramphenicol and decomposing products. The rate of decomposition followed first rate reaction and the K value obtained were 3.386 x 10-2 h-1, .149 x 10-2 h-1 and 0.0659 x 10-2 h-1 in sunlight, ultraviolet radiation and red-light, respectively. The respective half-life (t�) of the decomposition was 20.47 h, 2.0 h and 1051.59 h. The average K value for the ophthalmic chloramphenicol preparations were 3.291 x 10-2 h-1 and 3.540 x 10-1 h-1 in sunlight and ultraviolet radiation respectively. The stability of chloramphenicol aqueous solution is established in the presence of red light.
S.O. Okeniyi , J.A. Kolawole , M.T. Odunola , O.A. Babatunde and J.T. Bamgbose , 2006. Kinetics of Light Induced Degradation of Aqueous Solution of Chloramphenicol. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 1: 123-127.