THE COMBINED USE OF DSC AND TGA FOR THE THERMAL-ANALYSIS OF ATENOLOL TABLETS

The New York Regional Laboratory's forensic pharmaceutical group used thermal analysis (TA) to ensure adherence to batch formulations by dru g manufacturers. TA in our laboratory consisted of differential scanni ng calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). DSC and TGA were used to analyse finished dosage forms and their components. In t his study the components of atenolol formulations were qualitatively i dentified by analysing individual components and comparing with the fi nished product. DSC and TGA were used together to develop a profile of batch formulations, with each analytical technique giving complementa ry types of information. For example, the excipient sodium starch glyc olate was identified by DSC and confirmed by TGA. These experimental r esults demonstrated the use of TA for the characterization of finished dosage forms and the qualitative identification of some of the indivi dual components in batch formulations.