Experiment #5: Colorimetric Assay of Aspartame in Commercial Sweeteners

Samantha Wargo (& Kristin Coleman)

CH 111-05 Quantitative Analysis Laboratory
November 20, 2014
 2

I. Title: Experiment #5 Colorimetric Assay of Aspartame in Commercial

Sweeteners

II. Objective:
One goal of this lab is to determine the concentration of aspartame using a

biuret reagent and spectroscopy. The use of a spectrometer will be taught.

Another goal is to prepare five aspartame standard solutions and two

sweetener solutions.

III. Data:

Table 1: Absorbance Readings for Standard Aspartame Solutions at 629 nm

Standard
Absorbance
solution Absorbance A1 Absorbance A2 Absorbance A3
average
(mg/mL)
0.50 .112 .111 .109 .111
1.00 .215 .212 .219 .215
1.50 .319 .315 .315 .316
2.00 .418 .417 .420 .418
2.50 .499 .510 .510 .506

Table 2: Mass of sweetener samples

Brand of Sweetener Mass (g)

Equal 0.4002 g

Generic Aspartame sweetener 0.4007 g

Table 3: Absorbance reading for commercial sweetener solutions at 629 nm

Brand of Absorbance Absorbance Absorbance Absorbance

sweetener reading A1 reading A2 reading A3 average
Equal .200 .204 .201 .202
Generic .241 .250 .243 .245
 3

Beer's Law Plot

0.6
y = 0.2069x

Absorbance
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

Concentration (mg/mL)
Figure 1. Graph of Absorbance vs. concentration for aspartame-biuret stock solutions;
Samantha Wargo & Kristin Coleman. 11-6-14

IV. Calculations:
Use the equation from the trend line to find the concentration of sweetener
solutions
: = 0.2069

: 0.202 = 0.2069 = 0.976

: 0.245 = 0.2069 = 1.18

Use concentration and volume to find mass (mg) of aspartame

0.976 10
: = 9.76
1
1.18 10
: = 11.8
1

Use mass of aspartame and mass of sweetener to find concentration

9.76
: = 24.4
0.4002

11.8
: = 29.4
0.4007
Use experimental amount and true amount to find percent error
| |
% = 100%

 4

|24.4 26.9|
( ): 100 = 9.29%
26.9

|24.4 33|
( ): 100 = 26%
33
|29.4 30.5|
( ): 100 = 3.60%
30.5

|29.4 33|
( ): 100 = 11%
33

V. Questions:
1. Artificial sweeteners are claimed to contain zero calories. List the

ingredients provided on the labels of the two sweeteners tested.

Comment on the validity of the zero calorie claim.

In the packet of equal, the ingredients are: dextrose with

maltodextrin, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium. In the packet of

generic, the ingredients are: dextrose with maltodextrin and aspartame.

Zero-calorie sweeteners are not actually zero calories. Since these

sweeteners are so sweet, only a small amount is needed for one packet.

Since only a small amount is needed, the amount of calories is so low that

it virtually does not count.

2. Given that 1 g of carbohydrate contains 4 Calories of energy, what is the

energy content of one packet of each of the sweeteners tested? (Include

calculation)

According to the nutrition facts on the Equal box, the total

carbohydrates for one packet are less than 1 gram. So the energy content

for one packet is less than 4 calories of energy.

Calculations: < 1 x 4 = < 4 calories per packet