Solid-state properties of creatine monohydrate

✍ Scribed by Alekha K. Dash; Yoonsun Mo; Abira Pyne

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 296 KB
• Volume: 91
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-3549
• DOI: 10.1002/jps.10073

✦ Synopsis

Creatine monohydrate (CM) is a nutritional supplement and an ergogenic aid for athletes. It appears to increase lean body mass, high-intensity power output and strength in healthy humans. The crystal structure of creatine monohydrate has previously been reported. However, little information is available on its solid-state properties. In this investigation, creatine monohydrate was subjected to Thermal Analyses, Karl-Fisccher Titrimetry (KFT), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Variable Temperature X-ray Powder Diffractometry (VTXRD) to characterize its solidstate properties. The results of this study suggested that commercially available creatine monohydrate dehydrates at about 97±1258C. A phase transition after dehydration was con®rmed by X-ray diffraction studies. This dehydrated phase at a temperature above 2308C undergoes intramolecular cyclization with a loss of an additional mole of water to form creatinine. Creatinine ®nally melts with decomposition at about 2908C. VTXRD, con®rmed that the above solid-state thermal transformation was kinetically driven, and occurred within a narrow temperature range. Mass Spectrometric (MS) studies further indicated a possible dimerization of creatinine formed during the solid-state transformation.