STUDY OF VITAMIN C DEGRADATION DUE TO SHEAR IN A PUMPING UNIT

Abstract

Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, plays a crucial role in human health and disease prevention due to its antioxidant properties. Although widely used in various industries, the degradation of ascorbic acid presents a significant challenge in ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of products. The existing literature lacks comprehensive data on the quantification, analysis, and identification of ascorbic acid degradation products. This study aimed to evaluate the degradation of ascorbic acid through iodometric titration in a closed pumping system. Secondary objectives included establishing a numerical correlation between the titrant volume and the amount of ascorbic acid in the sample. The methodology applied involved iodometry, validating and defining equations that describe the relationship between ascorbic acid and titrant volume, with errors ranging from 0.45% to 11%. The experiments demonstrated significant degradation of vitamin C in aqueous solutions over a period of 60 minutes, with degradation rates ranging from 8.82% to 27.25%. These variations reflected factors such as precision in handling, oxygen exposure, and experimental conditions. These findings were relevant for both the food and pharmaceutical industries, emphasizing the need for effective preservation strategies to ensure the stability and efficacy of products over time. It was concluded that the system flow rate was a critical factor in the degradation of vitamin C, especially under conditions of lower flow.

Keywords: ascorbic acid, vitamin C, degradation, iodometry, stability