KINETICS OF DEGRADATION OF CEFACLOR .1. EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE, PHOSPHATE BUFFER, PH AND COPPER(II) ION ON THE RATE OF DEGRADATION

Acidic, neutral and alkaline degradation of cefaclor was followed by u ltraviolet spectroscopy, high-pressure liquid chromatography and iodom etric method. Degradation of the drug follows first-order kinetics und er constant pH and temperature conditions. The pH-rate profile was lik e that of other cephalosporins with an essentially similar structure. Phosphate buffer catalysis was observed. The copper(II)-ion catalyzed hydrolysis of cefaclor was investigated and no significant effect was found. The temperature effects on the reaction rate were followed and from Arrenius plots of the rates of hydrolysis, different activation e nergies were calculated.