Mean kinetic temperature

Mean kinetic temperature (MKT) is a simplified way of expressing the overall effect of temperature fluctuations during storage or transit of perishable goods. The MKT is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

The mean kinetic temperature can be expressed as:

$T_K=\cfrac{\frac{\Delta H}{R}}{-\ln \left ( \frac{{t_1}e^ \left ( \frac{-\Delta H}{RT_1}\right ) + {t_2}e^ \left ( \frac{-\Delta H}{RT_2}\right ) + \cdots + {t_n}e^ \left ( \frac{-\Delta H}{RT_n}\right )}{{t_1} + {t_2} + \cdots + {t_n}} \right )}$

Where:

$T_K\,\!$ is the mean kinetic temperature in kelvins

$\Delta H\,\!$ is the activation energy

$R\,\!$ is the gas constant

$T_1\,\!$ to $T_n\,\!$ are the temperatures at each of the sample points in kelvins

$t_1\,\!$ to $t_n\,\!$ are time intervals at each of the sample points

When the temperature readings are taken at the same interval (i.e., $t_1\,\!$ = $t_2\,\!$ = $\cdots$ = $t_n\,\!$), the above equation is reduced to:

$T_K=\cfrac{\frac{\Delta H}{R}}{-\ln \left ( \frac{e^ \left ( \frac{-\Delta H}{RT_1}\right ) + e^ \left ( \frac{-\Delta H}{RT_2}\right ) + \cdots + e^ \left ( \frac{-\Delta H}{RT_n}\right )}{n} \right )}$

Where:

$n\,\!$ is the number of temperature sample points

External links

• Excel sheet for calculation of MKT
• iStability MKT for calculation of MKT