Q10 Rule in Shelf Life Studies (2024)

FAQs

What is the Q10 rule in shelf life studies? ›

A tool used in accelerated studies is “the rule of ten,” or Q10, which is the factor by which the rate of spoil-age increases when the temperature is raised by 10C. Q10 allows for the prediction of a product's shelf life under real-life conditions based on the results of testing conducted at high temperatures.

The Q₁₀ coefficient (James, 1953, Blehrádek, Hegarty) has been widely described in the literature as a measure of the degree of temperature dependence of a given chemical or biological process. It is usually defined as the rate ratio of a given process taking place at temperatures differing by 10 units (℃ or K).

Q10 –The Q10 is a constant. It is an ageing factor for 10°C increase or decrease in temperature. The value is determined through testing of materials at a variety of temperatures and is generally considered outside the scope of the development of accelerated test protocols.

The Q₁₀ is expressed as the ratio of the velocity of a chemical reaction at a given temperature to that of the same reaction at a temperature 10 °C lower. From: Q10 (temperature coefficient) in The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine »

Ambient Temperature (TRT) Aging Factor (Q10): The aging factor is typically between 1.8 - 2.5 with a value of 2.0 being the most common value.

ICH Q10 is a crucial quality management standard for pharmaceutical companies. ICH Q10 was developed by the International Council on Harmonization (ICH) to provide a comprehensive framework for the modern pharmaceutical quality management system.

A nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. Q10 helps mitochondria (small structures in the cell) make energy. It is an antioxidant that helps prevent cell damage caused by free radicals (highly reactive chemicals).

Most supplements that are maintained properly (unopened, out of excessive heat and light) should be fine for at least 2 years. However, since it may take you a few months to use up the pills in your CoQ10 bottle, it would seem best for you to return it and ask for a more recently-manufactured product.

The Q ₁₀ method is another well-known predictive technique. It assumes that the ratio of the times to equivalent damage at two temperatures, usually 10°C apart, has a constant value. The Q ₁₀ method is not very accurate in practice. And, contrary to popular belief, it does not obey the Arrhenius equation.

The Q rule states that a product degradation rate decreases by a constant factor Q10 when the storage temperature is decreased by 10°C. The value of Q10 is typically set at 2, 3 or 4 because these correspond to reasonable activation energies.

What is the Q10 rule in microbiology? ›

Biological reactions usually exhibit Q10 values ranging from 2 to 3 [6]. As a rule of thumb, for every 10 °C rise in temperature, the reaction rates will double, resulting in an expected Q10 value of 2.

The rule that the polymer thermal aging rate k is doubled for every ∆T = 10 °C temperature increase from a reference temperature T1, the 10°C rule eq. (1), is widely used in the literature and on the internet. For instance, in medical device R&D it is used as a quick guideline for polymer screening.

If the reaction rate increases with increasing temperature, Q₁₀ is greater than 1. For most mesophilic enzymes, Q₁₀=2–3 [11]. This shows that the rate of the reaction doubles or triples with every 10 K rise in temperature. The more temperature-dependent a process is, the higher is its Q₁₀ value.

Q₁₀ varies between 2 and 3 in biological systems [2], and Q₁₀ = 2 is applied in modelling the rate of metabolic heat production in relation to body temperature [3,4].