Kinetic determination of ascorbic acid by the BZ oscillating chemical system

A new analytical method for the determination of ascorbic acid by the perturbation caused by different amounts of ascorbic acid on the BZ oscillating chemical system involving the Ce(IV)-catalyzed reaction between potassium bromate and malonic acid in a acidic medium is proposed. The method relies on the linear relationship between the change in the oscillation amplitude of the chemical system and the concentration of ascorbic acid, which is in this work exposed for the first time. The calibration curve is linearly proportional to the concentration of ascorbic acid over the range 3.5 x 10(-6)-4.7 x 10(-4) M, with the regression coefficient is 0.9975. Two different methodologies were used to address the determination. Some aspects of the potential mechanism of action of ascorbic acid on the BZ oscillating chemical system are discussed in detail. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.