Potentiometric measurement of ascorbate by using a solvent polymeric membrane electrode.

A novel potentiometric method for the determination of ascorbate is described in this communication. It is based on ascorbate oxidation with permanganate which is continuously released from the inner reference solution of a ligand-free tridodecylmethylammonium chloride (TDMAC)-based polymeric membrane ion selective electrode (ISE). The ISE potential determined by the activity of permanganate ions released at the sample-membrane phase boundary is increased with the consumption of permanganate. The proposed membrane electrode is useful for continuous and reversible detection of ascorbate at concentrations in 0.1M NaCl ranging from 1.0 x 10(-6) to 1.0 x 10(-3)M with a detection limit of 2.2 x 10(-7)M.