Sensor film for Vitamin C determination based on absorption properties of polyaniline

An analytical method based on the absorption changes of chemically polymerised polyaniline at 700 nm is proposed for the determination of Vitamin C. Vitamin C produces a polyaniline film reduction, originating changes in its absorbance proportional to the Vitamin C concentration. The optimum reaction conditions and the analytical characteristics have been studied. The linear response of the method ranged from 0.10 to 1.0 mg l⁻¹ for a 6 min reaction time and from 1.0 to 8.0 mg l⁻¹ for a 2 min reaction time. Reproducibility, expressed as the coefficient of variation, was 0.8% (6 min reaction time) and 2.3% (2 min reaction time) (n = 10). The method has been applied to Vitamin C determination in pharmaceutical preparations and commercial fruit juices. The results were compared with those obtained by the 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol titration method (the AOAC Official Method) and no systematic errors were observed.