The objectives of this work were to study the thermal degradation kinetics of L-carnitine and to develop a procedure for thermal inactivation kinetics determination from dynamic temperature profile experiments. Experiments were conducted at isothermal conditions in a temperature range from 80 to 130 degrees C. Remaining L-carnitine concentration was measured at predescribed time intervals at each temperature tested. The kinetic parameters D-Tref and z were determined after the first order kinetic behavior of L-carnitine thermal inactivation was verified. Furthermore, L-carnitine concentration data were collected during a non-isothermal experiment and the D-Tref and z values were determined through appropriate methodology. From the isothermal experiments, the parameters D-120 degrees C and z were calculated equal to 50.4 min and 30.8 degrees C, respectively. Similar values (D-120 degrees C = 52.0 min and z = 31.8 degrees C) were obtained from the measurements during the dynamic temperature profile experiment. Based on the agreement between the parameters estimated using isothermal and non-isothermal temperature profiles, and given the reduced number of experimental data required by the latter approach, kinetic parameter estimation from experiments at dynamic conditions is recommended. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.