Simultaneous determination of organic acids and vitamin C in green beans by liquid chromatography

A method is described for determining and quantitating organic acids (oxalic, malic, citric, and fumaric) and vitamin C by liquid chromatography with a UV-visible detector that allows simultaneous monitoring at 2 wavelengths. The method was applied to samples of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Recoveries were 97.8% for oxalic acid, 98.9% for malic acid, 98.7% for citric acid, 99.2% for fumaric acid, and 98.5% for vitamin C. Method precisions (coefficients of variation) were 1.7% for oxalic acid, 0.8% for malic acid, 0.9% for citric acid, 1.5% for fumaric acid, and 1.2% for vitamin C. Measurement precisions (coefficients of variation) were 1.32% for oxalic acid, 0.33% for malic acid, 0.62% for citric acid, 1.01% for fumaric acid, and 0.39% for vitamin C. Limits of detection were 0.025 mg/mL for oxalic acid, 0.022 mg/mL for malic acid, 0.024 mg/mL for citric acid, 1.0 x 10(-4) mg/mL for fumaric acid, and 2.7 x 10(-4) mg/mL for vitamin C.