Kinetic and prediction studies of ascorbic acid degradation in normal and concentrate local lemon juice during storage

Kinetics of the loss of ascorbic acid (AA) in local lemon juice of 9° and 50° Brix stored at 25, 35, and 45 °C for 4 months have been investigated. The results indicate that increases of concentrations and temperatures increase the rate of AA degradation. The calculated values of activation energies (E≠) and frequency factors (A) at different Brix imply that the concentration of juice does not change the mechanism of degradation. Thermodynamic functions of activation (ΔG≠, ΔH≠, ΔS≠ and K≠) have been determined and considered briefly. A direct equation for estimation of the shelf life of stored juice with respect to first-order losses of AA, at any specific temperature and degradation ratio, has been derived and programmed successfully.