FLUOROMETRIC-DETERMINATION OF FOLIC-ACID BASED ON ITS REACTION WITH THE FLUOROGENIC REAGENT FLUORESCAMINE

A spectrofluorimetric analysis of folic acid (pteroylglutamic acid) us ing fluorescamine as a fluorogenic reagent, has been developed. The an alytical parameters for optimal reaction and sensitivity (pH, fluoresc amine concentration, temperature, reaction time), have been studied. T he present method may be employed for the analysis of small amounts of folic acid (< 20 ppb), without interferences from other compounds; th e selectivity being increased by the application of the synchronous de rivative technique to normal fluorescence spectra. The minimum detecta ble quantity, using the latter technique, is estimated to be 16 ppb, w ith a relative standard deviation of 2.7 % (10 determinations). A soft sport beverage, containing low concentrations of the vitamin, have be en satisfactorily analyzed.