Simulating Ascorbic Acid Degradation
Simulating Ascorbic Acid Degradation
Isothermal chemical degradation of ascorbic acid (AA) can follow, simultaneously, two major pathways: "aerobic," where it is first oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), and "anaerobic," where it is not. The second mechanism is much slower, and thus the degradation curve may appear as having an asymptotic residual concentration of AA. This Demonstration simulates such degradation patterns, which start by following first-order kinetics and end up in an asymptotic concentration ratio. It also simulates dynamic (i.e. nonisothermal) degradation curves during oscillating linearly rising and falling temperature regimes.