Effect of riboflavin on the photolysis of folic acid in aqueous solution.

A study of the photolysis of folic acid in aqueous solution by visible radiation in the presence of riboflavin has been made. The second-order rate constants for the bimolecular interaction of folic acid and riboflavin have been determined in the pH range 4.0-9.0. The rate pH profile shows a gradual increase in the rate up to pH 6.2 (pHmax) followed by a decrease up to pH 9.0, depending upon the susceptibility of ionic species involved in the interaction. The rate of photolysis varies from 0.50 x 10(3) M(-1) min(-1) (pH 9.0) and 0.63 x 10(3) M(-1) min(-1) (pH 4.0) to 3.0 x 10(3) M(-1) min(-1) (pH 6.2) in the pH range studied. A HPLC method has been used for the assay of folic acid and its photoproducts, pterine-6-carboxylic acid and p-aminobenzoyl-L-glutamic acid in the presence of riboflavin.