Comparative studies on eight dissolution method using 21 commercial chloramphenicol tablets and a nondisintegrating benzoic acid tablet.

Eight dissolution methods (beaker, rotating basket, oscillating basket, solubility simulator, rotating flask, and column) were evaluated using 21 commercial film-coated chloramphenicol (I) tablets and a nondisintegrating benzoic acid (II) tablet. The relative agitating intensities obtained from different dissolution methods were compared through the relative zero-order nondisintegrating tablet dissolution rate constants. Correlation coefficients between I dissolution rate parameters (lag time, T20, T50, and T80) were determined. Significant correlation was observed for the lag time among seven methods, and all pairwise regression lines passed through zero except one. The regression line slopes reflected the relative destructive force intensities produced by each dissolution method on the coated I tablet films. The seven dissolution methods could be classified into two main groups according to correlations of four dissolution rate parameters. The classification criterion agreed well with that based on the agitation method. However, dissolution methods may not be interchangeable even though they belong to the same dissolution method group.