Abstract

GAMMA RADIOLYTIC DEGRADATION OF VITAMIN B1 AND VITAMIN C

Sailee A. Bhange*, Dilip V. Parwate and Kiran M. Khandarkar

ABSTRACT

Radiation chemistry has many novel applications. Earlier it was considered to have only degradation effect on the materials on which radiations were incident but the scenario has changed a lot now and several constructive applications are deliberated using high energy radiations. Gamma radiation sterilization method is a very clean procedure as it does not leave behind any chemical products. The heat labile compounds can be sterilized using these methods. This method of sterilization can be directly used after final packaging of products reducing the requirement of strict aseptic conditions at all stages of production. In the present work we have focused on the radiation induced degradation of Vitamin B1 and Vitamin C. Thiamine hydrochloride and two vitamin B1 tablets, Beplex Forte and Neurobion Forte, were used. Ascorbic acid and two vitamin C tablets namely, Celin and Limcee, were used for the present study. The standards and tablets were irradiated in Gamma chamber in solid state as well as aqueous phase at the dose rate of ~0.3 kGy/hr and characterized by IR and NMR. Thiamine hydrochloride was irradiated in solid phase and its assay was checked spectrophotometrically. The assay of ascorbic acid was studied by iodometric titration. It was found from FTIR and NMR spectra that irradiation does not cause any change in the chemical structure. The radiation sterilization of these vitamins can be effectively carried out in solid state as decomposition of vitamins does not occur due to gamma irradiations in the solid state. However, aqueous solution of thiamine hydrochloride gets extensively degraded due to gamma irradiation. Aqueous solution of ascorbic acid is quite resistant to gamma radiation and does not undergo much radiation damage at low Radiation chemistry has many novel applications. Earlier it was considered to have only degradation effect on the materials on which radiations were incident but the scenario has changed a lot now and several constructive applications are deliberated using high energy radiations. Gamma radiation sterilization method is a very clean procedure as it does not leave behind any chemical products. The heat labile compounds can be sterilized using these methods. This method of sterilization can be directly used after final packaging of products reducing the requirement of strict aseptic conditions at all stages of production. In the present work we have focused on the radiation induced degradation of Vitamin B1 and Vitamin C. Thiamine hydrochloride and two vitamin B1 tablets, Beplex Forte and Neurobion Forte, were used. Ascorbic acid and two vitamin C tablets namely, Celin and Limcee, were used for the present study. The standards and tablets were irradiated in Gamma chamber in solid state as well as aqueous phase at the dose rate of ~0.3 kGy/hr and characterized by IR and NMR. Thiamine hydrochloride was irradiated in solid phase and its assay was checked spectrophotometrically. The assay of ascorbic acid was studied by iodometric titration. It was found from FTIR and NMR spectra that irradiation does not cause any change in the chemical structure. The radiation sterilization of these vitamins can be effectively carried out in solid state as decomposition of vitamins does not occur due to gamma irradiations in the solid state. However, aqueous solution of thiamine hydrochloride gets extensively degraded due to gamma irradiation. Aqueous solution of ascorbic acid is quite resistant to gamma radiation and does not undergo much radiation damage at low dosages of gamma irradiation. Thus, vitamin C syrups can also be sterilized by low dose of gamma radiation.

Keywords: Gamma radiation sterilization, Vitamin B1, Vitamin C.