DETERMINATION OF ASCORBIC ACID

CONTENTS IN SELECTED FRUITS

A PROJECT PRESENTATION

BY

OLAOYE, TOYOSI LUQMAN

(12/MHS02/043)

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL SCIENCES

(INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY PROGRAMME)

MAY, 2017.
 INTRODUCTION
Vitamin C otherwise known as ascorbic acid is a
water soluble vitamin that is naturally present in
some foods, added to others and taken as a dietary
supplement.
Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of
tissues in all parts of the body. It helps the body
make collagen.
Smoking cigarettes lowers the amount of vitamin C
in the body. Smokers are therefore at a higher risk of
its deficiency. (Burn et al., 1987).
 OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

LITERATURE REVIEW

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE

CONCLUSION / RECOMMENDATION

REFERENCES
 LITERATURE REVIEW

FIG. 1.0. STRUCTURE OF ASCORBIC ACID

 LITERATURE REVIEW CONTd
CHEMISTRY OF ASCORBIC ACID.
Ascorbic acid has chemical names as; 2-oxo-
l-threo-hexono-1, 4-lactone-2, 3-enediol(R)-
3, 4dihydroxy-5-((s)-1,2-
dihydroxyethyl)furan-2(5H)-one;
L-ascorbic acid, L-xyloascorbic acid; 3-oxo-1-
gulofuranolactone (enol form)
Molecular formula: C6H8O6
Molecular mass: 176.1
Melting point: 190 to 192
 MATERIALS AND METHOD

Sample Collection: The samples were bought in Ado-Ekiti

market on the 12th April, 2017 and they were fresh.
Flowsheet for the sample preparation;
 Sample collections,
washing and pilling.

Size reduction using

electric blender.

Filtration using sieving

cloth

Filtrate was stored in

sterilized bottle in
refrigerator

0.250ml of filtrate mixed with distilled

water in a 100ml standard flask and
made up to 100ml with distilled water.
 Sample preparation contd

SOLUTION PREPARATION
1% STARCH INDICATOR SOLUTION
0.5g of soluble starch was prepared with warm distilled water
It was mixed well and cooled before use.
IODINE SOLUTION
Dissolve 5.00g potassium iodide (KI) and 0.268g potassium iodate
(KIO3) in 200ml 0f distilled water.
Add 30ml of 3M H2SO4
 MATERIALS AND METHOD Contd
Pour this solution into a 500ml graduated cylinder and
dilute it to a final volume of 500ml with distilled water.
Mix the solution

Transfer the solution to a 600ml beaker; label the beaker as

your iodine solution.
Vitamin C standard solution

Dissolve 0.250g vitamin c (ascorbic acid) in 100ml distill

water
Dilute to 250ml with distilled water in a volumetric flask.
 MATERIALS AND METHOD Contd
TITRATION PROCEDURE
Add 25ml of vitamin c standard solution to a 125m
Erlenmeyer flask
Add 10 drops of 1% starch solution
Rinse you burette to a small volume of the iodine solution
and then fill it. Record the initial volume.
Titrate the solution until the endpoint is reached. This will be
when you see the first sign of blue color that persists after 20
seconds of swirling the solution
Record final volume of iodine solution the volume that was
required is the starting volume minus the final volume
Repeat the titration at least twice more result should agree to
within 0.1ml
 MATERIALS AND METHOD Contd
Titrating fruits samples

Add 0.25ml of fruit sample to a 125ml Erlenmeyer flask.

Titrate until the end point is reached (Add iodine solution

until you get a colour that persist longer than 20seconds )

Repeat the titration until you have at least three

measurements that agree to within 0.1ml.

 RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS USING
IODOMETRIC METHOD
40 Chart Title
35 34.53
30
25
20
15.35
15 11.51 11.51 11.51
10
FIG 1: Ascorbic acid
5 content in mg/100g
0
 RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS USING
IODOMETRIC METHOD
50
45 46
EXPERIMENTAL LITERATURE
40
35 35.23 34.53
30
25
20
15 15.35 11.51 12
11.51
10 11.51 10
5 6
0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5

FIG. 2 Comparison of results with literature value

 DISCUSSION

From the result, it shows that the ascorbic acid content in apple is 11.51mg/100g
which is higher than the literature value 6mg/100g as recorded by (Rodriguez, et al;
1992). The RDA is 6mg/100g per day(Frigg 1996.), and this shows that apple is rich
in vitamin C content.
Also, the experimental value of grape 15.35mg/100g is lower than the literature
value 35.23mg/100g, the variation in the result maybe due to environmental factor
such as soil property, where the food is planted, however, 15.35mg/100g of grape
falls within the RDA and it shows that it is good.
Water Melon has 11.51mg/100g of vitamin C content and this result is higher than
literature value 10mg/100g (Levine M et al.1999), and it is higher than the RDA. It
indicate that watermelon obtained in ado-ekiti is rich in vitamin C.
 DISCUSSION
pineapple also has 11.51mg/100g of vitamin C content and

which is lower than that of the literature value 12mg/100g.

The RDA is 12mg/100g, however, 11.51mg/100g of
pineapple falls within the RDA and it shows that it is good.

The experimental value of lime is 34.53mg/100g which is

lower than the literature value 46mg/100g. The variation in the
result maybe due to the soil property. However, 34.53mg/100g
of lime has the highest experimental value and also falls
within the RDA and these shows that it is good.
 Discussion contd
However, it has been widely reported that ascorbic acid is
important as an anti stress and protector against cold, chills
and Damp reported that Linus Pauling, a noble prize winner in
1970 advocated the use of mega doses(Burns, 1987) of
ascorbic acid for the prevention of common cold and in
related infections. Also ascorbic acid prevents muscle fatique
and scurvy that is characterized by skin hemorrhages,
bleeding gums, fragile bones, anaemia and pains in joint
(Okwi,2006).
 DISCUSSION
Fruits Experimental Literature Remark
Value(mg/100g) Value(mg/100g)
(source:The Natural
Food Hub -
www.naturalhub.com)

Apple (Malus 11.51 6 Very Good

Pumila)
Grape (Vitis 15.35 35.23 Good
Vinifera)
Water Mellon 11.51 10 Very Good
(Citrullus
Lanatus)
Pineapple 11.51 12 Very Good
(Ananas
Comosus)
Lime (Citrus 34.53 46 Good
Aurantifolia)
 CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE
The different fruits obtained from Ado-Ekiti
have shown to possess an appreciative
quantity of vitamin C, with lime exhibiting the
highest amount of vitamin C. Hence, serving
as a good source of ascorbic acids.
 CONCLUSION/ RECCOMENDATION

In this research, it was found that different fruits

(lime, grape, watermelon, pineapple and apple)

acquired from Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, showed a varying

estimates of vitamin C contents needed for human

consumption and can serve all the physiological

functions of ascorbic acid.

 REFERENCES
D.J. Burns, J. M. River, and D. Machlin, Acad. Sci. 258.498 (1997).

M. Levine, Circulation 93,1107 (1996).

R. R. Watson, Nutrition and AIDS, CRC Press, Boca Raton, London

(1994), pp. 120-13.
M. Levine, Science 278. 2061 (2004).

Briggs M.H. Mega dose Vitamin C (1981).

Romero, M.A,. Rodriguez, et al 'Determination of Vitamin C (1992)

M Sidib, JF Scheuring, D Tembely, M M Sidib, P Hofman, and M
Frigg(1996).
THANKS
FOR

LISTENING.