Cyclamate is a non-caloric sweetener
being approximately 30 times as sweet as sucrose. Cyclamate
used in combination with other low-calorie sweeteners
results in the synergistic effect of increased sweetness
compared to the sum of the two individual sweeteners.
Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener
being approximately 200 times as sweet as sucrose. Aspartame
is extremely unstable in the presence of moisture and
undergoes hydrolytic degradation and subsequent loss
of sweetness. Hydrolytic degradation may be accelerated
by elevated temperatures and is dependent on the pH
value.
The heating method (oven method) together
with Karl Fischer titration is used
to determine the water content of tablets
made of the artificial sweeteners aspartame and cyclamate.
As the tablets release their moisture only at high
temperatures (aspartame: 130 °C, cyclamate 140°C)
the direct Karl Fischer determination is not suitable.
The oven method of Karl Fischer titration is also perfect
for samples having a low solubility in alcohols or samples
containing interfering components (e.g. vitamin C being
present).
Metrohm’s 832 KF Thermoprep
is a very compact instrument containing the oven heating
block, a gas pump, a flow meter, a flow controller and
two drying flasks. Single determinations can be carried
out quickly and time as well as cost-saving. Using a
dry carrier gas, moisture is carried from the KF Thermoprep
to the KF Coulometer where the water
is determined with a diaphragm-less generator electrode.
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Food
Analysis 
