Oxidative degradation of hydrocortisone in presence of attapulgite.

Degradation of hydrocortisone in attapulgite suspensions was monitored by high-pressure liquid chromatography and UV spectrophotometry. The rate of oxidative degration of hydrocortisone was accelerated significantly in the presence of attapulgite. In addition, degradation appeared to be composed of two apparent first-order reactions rather than the single apparent first-order degradation reaction observed for hydrocortisone solutions. However, the same degradation products were obtained in both hydrocortisone solutions and attapulgite suspensions, indicating that interaction with attapulgite did not alter the degradation pathway. Kinetic and adsorption studies suggested that hydrocortisone is adsorbed weakly by attapulgite and undergoes oxidative degradation, which is catalyzed by adsorbed iron oxides or hydroxides as well as by structural ferric iron at the clay surface. Since clay minerals generally contain surface ferric iron, the potentiala for accelerating the oxidative degradation of drugs should be considered whenever clays and drugs are combined.