"Analysis of riboflavin in aqueous systems"

Abstract

We are developing an analytical method for determining the concentration of riboflavin (Vitamin B2) in aqueous samples based on fluorescence spectroscopy. This method will then be adapted to measure riboflavin in mock urine samples and used in undergraduate analytical chemistry courses as described by J.A. Henderleiter and R.M. Hyslop (J. Chem. Educ. 1996, 73, 563-564). The method can be used to track riboflavin uptake and clearance rates in the body. Potential interferences from other naturally occurring compounds in urine will be considered and simulated in the mock samples. Furthermore, since the method is being developed with a new spectrofluorometer (obtained with funds from the National Science Foundation and Drake University), an examination of the capabilities and limitations of the instrument is also being conducted. Presented here are preliminary results for an analysis of riboflavin in water, upon which we can determine the concentration in an ‘unknown’ solution to within 1 % accuracy.