Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography method for the determination of ascorbic acid

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) method using internal standard for the determination and stability study of ascorbic acid was developed. HILIC method was very fast and simple using the following analytical conditions: ZIC HILIC (150 x 2.1 mm, 3.5 microm) chromatographic column and mobile phase composed of ACN and 50 mM ammonium acetate buffer pH 6.8 (78:22 v/v). Diode array detection was performed and chromatograms were processed at 268 nm, the maximum wavelength of absorbance of ascorbic acid. An extensive stability study of ascorbic acid as a function of various factors including temperature, stabilizing agents, oxygen presence and its concentration in solution was performed in order to gain information about the quantitative influence of individual stability factors. Low temperature and stabilizing agents (o-phosphoric acid and oxalic acid) were found to be key factors enabling substantial enhancement of the stability of ascorbic acid.