|
Introduction :
Vitamin C is also known as Ascorbic Acid. It is one of the most common Vitamins,
available in the following two forms.
1. Vitamin
C Coated (with food grade binding agent Stearyl
Alcohol) chemically known as 3 Keto-Gulofuranolactone.
2. Vitamin
C Plain chemically known as Enolic
form 3-OXO-L-Gulofuranolactone.
The empirical formula C6H8O6 and molecular weight is 176.12. Vitamin C is widely
distributed in the plant and animal kingdom. The richest sources
are citrus fruits, hip berries, fresh tea leaves. Isolated
from the adrenal cortex of ox and later from lemons and paprika.
Vitamin C is produced through multi-stage processes involving
fermentation, crystallisation etc. The basic raw material to produce Vitamin
C is Sorbitol.
Specifications :
| |
|
Vitamin
C Coated |
Vitamin
C Plain |
| 1. |
Appearance |
White
or slightly off white, fine granular powder. |
Colourless
crystals or white to very pale yellow crystalline powder. |
| 2. |
Odour
|
Odourless |
Odourless |
| 3. |
Taste
|
Acid |
Acid |
| 4. |
Solubility |
Freely
soluble in water, alcohol, insoluble in ether and in
Benzene. |
sparingly
soluble in chloroform, insolvent |
| 5. |
Identification |
To
pass the test |
To
pass the test |
| 6. |
Clarity
and colour |
To
pass the test |
To
pass the test |
| 7. |
Light
Absorption |
To
pass the test |
To
pass the test |
| 8. |
Assay
w/w, % |
96
to 97 |
99.0
to 100.5 of C6H8O6 |
| 9. |
pH
of 5 % w/w solution |
+ |
2.2
to 2.5 |
| 10. |
Heavy
Metals,ppm,Max. |
20 |
20 |
| 11. |
Residue
on Ignition, %, w/w, Max. |
0.1 |
+ |
| 12. |
Loss
on Drying, %, w/w, Max. |
0.15 |
+ |
| 13. |
Melting
Range |
+ |
1900
to 1920 with decomposition |
| 14. |
Specific
Rotation, (10 % w/v Soln.) |
+
20.50 to 21.50 |
+ |
| 15. |
Sulphated
Ash, %, w/w, Max |
+ |
0.1 |
Characteristics :
- Stable to air when dry.
- Pleasant, sharp acidic taste.
- Possess relatively strong reducing
powers, decolourises many dyes.
- Incompatible with formulations
of Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Nitrite, Theobromine Sodium Salicylate, Methenamine,
Riboflavin, Niacinamide.
 Print
|
Print
