A Kinetic Study on the Oxidation of Pharmaceutically Significant PEG-400 by Periodate

Polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400) has a spectrum of applications in pharmaceutical field. PEG-400 oxidation was carried out in alkaline medium by using potassium periodate as an oxidant. Rate of the reaction was found to be first order dependence on the oxidant concentration. In the studied range, substrate concentration didn't change the reaction rate. Increase of alkali concentration decreased the reaction rate and order of the reaction with respect to alkali was inverse fractional. Effect of temperature on reaction rate was studied and then Arrhenius parameters were calculated. A suitable rate law was proposed based on the observed experimental results.