A simple and selective sensor for the determination of ascorbic acid in vitamin C tablets based on paptode.

A method for the determination of ascorbic acid in vitamin C tablets based on a very simple paptode design on TLC strips is described. This procedure is based on the reduction of iron(III) with ascorbic acid and the formation of a colorful red complex with immobilized 2,2'-dipyridyl (dipy) on TLC strips. The linear range of the system was 20-200 ppm with a detection limit of 1 ppm and a relative standard deviation of 1.5% (n = 28). The parameters, such as pH, concentration of iron(III), concentration of dipy and the volume of dipy per 1 cm(2) of TLC strips, were optimized. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of ascorbic acid in vitamin C tablets.