Kinetic model for 5-fluorouridine degradation - Catalytic effect of 5-fluorouracil

The effects of 5-fluorouridine (5-FUR, CAS 316-46-1) degradation products, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, CAS 51-21-8) and D-ribose (CAS 50-69-1), on its degra dation rate was investigated following a 2(3) factorial design. The experim ental data fitted to the proposed mathematical model which includes two par allel degradation mechanisms: the first one, a second order bimolecular rea ction involving both 5-FUR and 5-FU, and the second, a first order one. Exp erimental data obtained show a high variability. Both graphic and statistic al analysis of the experiments for which a full kinetic model was applied m anifested that the degradation mechanism included an autocatalytic route an d confirmed the role of the 5-FU on the hydrolysis of 5-FUR.