Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is one of the most populardietary supplements consumed in the United States,accounting for well over $150 million in sales annually. Itsuse in the prevention of scurvy is well known, and it isincreasingly recognized for its antioxidant properties. Ascorbic acid is also widely used in the food industry toprevent browning in canned or frozen fruits. Additionally,it is often used in plastics manufacture to aid in thepolymerization process, or to neutralize iodine in chemicallytreated water. Traditionally, ascorbic acid is mixed withexcipients such as starch that act as fillers or binders inaddition to enhancing flow characteristics. Analysis andquantitation of ascorbic acid in these mixtures is difficultand time consuming, requiring complicated titrations orextractions coupled with fluorimetry. These methodsnecessitate the use of complicated equipment, corrosive ortoxic chemicals, and highly trained analysts.

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