RapidOxy 100: Advanced oxidation stability testing for pharmaceuticals and APIs

Oxidation is a major degradation pathway for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), particularly in solid dosage forms. It can reduce efficacy, generate toxic by-products, and shorten shelf life. Ensuring oxidative stability is therefore critical in pharmaceutical development to maintain API activity, quality, and long-term stability.

Anton Paar’s RapidOxy 100 is the only instrument that performs the rapid small-scale oxidation test (RSSOT) according to ASTM D8206. It automates oxidation stability testing for pharmaceuticals, formulations, and APIs – including complex matrices and solid dosage forms – without prior sample preparation. 

Designed to streamline laboratory workflows, the advanced oxidation stability tester features straightforward measurement setup and a test chamber that can be wiped clean in less than five minutes. It is ideally suited to research and development, quality control, and accelerated shelf-life studies across a wide range of pharmaceutical samples.

Elevated temperature and oxygen pressure accelerate oxidative aging and deliver reproducible, reliable results, while flexible measuring parameters allow full customisation of every test. Typical method conditions include temperatures from 60°C to 140°C and an initial oxygen pressure of 700 kPa to initiate rapid oxidation. Oxygen uptake is monitored by continuously recording the pressure of the gas phase until a predefined pressure drop or a specified measurement time is reached. The elapsed time until the pressure drop occurs – or the extent of the pressure drop within a defined time – directly correlates with the total oxygen consumption of the sample, enabling reliable assessment of oxidation stability.

RapidOxy 100 directly measures oxygen uptake in a sealed chamber, independent of sample consistency, ensuring accurate results for liquids, semi-solids, and solids alike. The resulting pressure curve forms the basis for advanced analysis, enabling calculation of molar oxygen uptake and determination of activation energy. The OxyLogger 100 desktop software offers one-click comparison of measurements and calculated results, providing deeper insight into oxidation behavior and shelf-life performance to support optimised formulation strategies and preventive measures.

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