ABSTRACT
The solubilities of benzocaine and salicylic acid were determined in water-dioxane mixtures at several temperatures (5-40 degrees C for benzocaine and 10-40 degrees C for salicylic acid). The solubility curves as a function of dioxane ratio showed a maximum at 90% dioxane at all temperatures. Above 25 degrees C, the homogeneous mixture splits into two liquid immiscible phases. For benzocaine, the initial dioxane concentration range at which phase separation takes place increased with temperature (50-60% at 25 degrees C, 50-70% at 30-35 degrees C and 40-70% at 40 degrees C). For salicylic acid, the dioxane concentration required for phase separation (40-60% dioxane) did not change with temperature. Phase separation was not related to solid phase changes (polymorphism or solvates). The phase composition and drug extraction at the drug-rich phase were determined. The apparent enthalpies of the solution process were a nonlinear function of the dioxane ratio for both drugs. The apparent enthalpy of solution of benzocaine was larger than that expected at the upper limit of phase separation (70% dioxane), whereas for salicylic acid the apparent enthalpy of solution decreased abruptly at the region corresponding to phase separation (40-70% dioxane). Both drugs showed a nonlinear pattern of enthalpy-entropy compensation.
