A low-cost automated flow analyzer based on low temperature co-fired ceramic and LED photometer for ascorbic acid determination

Abstract

An automated flow analyzer based on low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC), a solid-phase reactor (SPR) and a low-cost photometer was designed for ascorbic acid (AA) determination in pharmaceutical formulations. It consists of a peristaltic pump, three-way solenoid valves, SPR to chemically convert Cu(II) into Cu(I), and a LTCC device for mixing the liberated copper with bathocuproine and detection. The flow cell in the LTCC employed an ultrabright LED - photodiode photometer. The analyzer successfully determined AA in pharmaceutical formulations. The analytical curve from 8.5×10-6 to 7.0×10-4 M gave a detection limit of 7.0×10-7 M and a RSD of 2.1% for a 2.0×10-4 M AA solution (n = 10). A high sampling frequency of 102 h-1 and low reagent and sample consumption (150 μL) resulted. © Versita Sp. z o.o.