Thermal decomposition of vitamin C: An evolved gas analysis−ion attachment mass spectrometry study

• Published in: Food Chemistry Vol. 129; no. 2; pp. 546 - 550
• Main Authors: Juhász, Márta, Kitahara, Yuki, Fujii, Toshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.11.2011; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: ascorbic acid; bioactive properties; Biological and medical sciences; Decomposition; Dehydro-l-ascorbic acid; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gases; Ion attachment mass spectrometry; l-Ascorbic acid; Li+ attachment; mass spectrometry; pyrolysis; Pyrolysis products; Decomposition; Dehydro-l-ascorbic acid; Pyrolysis products; Li+ attachment; Ion attachment mass spectrometry; l-Ascorbic acid; Pyrolysis; L-Ascorbic acid; Ascorbic acid; Thermal decomposition; Vitamin; Ions; Dehydro-L-ascorbic acid; attachment; Analysis; Mass spectrometry; Li; Li(+) attachment
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.04.056

► We studied the real time non-isothermal decomposition of vitamin C. ► Evolved gas analysis−ion attachment mass spectrometry (EGA−IAMS) was utilised. ► We could observe dehydro-l-ascorbic acid as a decomposition product for the first time. ► Our results were compared with those obtained by pyrolysis-GC−MS. ► Quantitative and qualitative differences between the products were found. Evolved gas analysis−ion attachment mass spectrometry (EGA−IAMS) was utilised to study the real-time non-isothermal decomposition of vitamin C. Dehydro-l-ascorbic acid, which has until this study been undetectable from the solid phase degradation of vitamin C, was observed as a decomposition product. While it is an important compound because it possesses some biological activity, dehydro-l-ascorbic acid is difficult to measure due to its chemical instability. In the present study using EGA−IAMS, we were able to detect dehydro-l-ascorbic acid from the thermal degradation of vitamin C. Our EGA−IAMS results obtained from the thermal decomposition of vitamin C were compared with a previous study employing pyrolysis-gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC−MS). The observed quantitative and qualitative differences of the pyrolysis products obtained by the two techniques (EGA−IAMS vs. Pyr-GC–MS) are in part due to the difference in transportation time of the products out of the pyrolysis chamber.