Solvated behavior and crystal growth mechanism of erythromycin in aqueous acetone solution

The solubility of erythromycin acetone solvate and dihydrate was experimentally determined in aqueous acetone mixtures at different temperature. It has been demonstrated that solubility curves of the two solvates intersected at given solvent composition at various temperature, suggesting a transition behavior between two solvates. The induction period of acetone solvate at different supersaturation was measured by the laser monitoring observation technique. Based on classical homogeneous nucleation theory, the solid-liquid interfacial tension and surface entropy factor were calculated from the induction period data. From the surface entropy factor values calculated, together with surface morphology observation by the atomic force microscopy (AFM), the growth mechanism of erythromycin acetone solvate is consistent with continuous growth mode.