Direct detection of the crystal form of an active pharmaceutical ingredient in tablets by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

•We found new crystalline forms of bromhexine hydrochloride and determined their crystal structures.•Br-K edge X-ray fine structure spectroscopy can be used to identify the crystal form of bromhexine.•X-ray fine structure spectroscopy can be used to identify the crystalline form of active pharmaceutical ingredients in commercial tablets packaged within PTP sheets.