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Fresh Versus Dehydrated Beetroot (Beta Vulgaris) Extract as a Natural Acid-Base Indicator: A Spectrophotometric and Titrimetric Comparison with Phenolphthalein


Authors : Savita Senwar; Dr. Nasreen Anjum Khan

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 8 - August


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/yuzchd26

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26aug1090

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : This study compared fresh beetroot extract, a commercial dehydrated beetroot powder extract, and phenolphthalein side by side, using UV–Vis spectrophotometric scanning across a buffered pH range (1.3 - 11.5) and a weak acid-strong base titration (0.1 M CH₃COOH against 0.1 M NaOH). The fresh extract retained strong, stable absorbance at 480 nm and 535 nm across the acidic-to-neutral range, declining sharply only above pH 8-9, close to where phenolphthalein’s absorbance rose, an intersection marking a shared transition zone. The powdered extract, by contrast, showed a consistently weak, largely pH-insensitive signal, with its apparent absorption maximum shifted to 300 nm.

Keywords : Beetroot; Beta Vulgaris; Betalains; Betacyanin; Betaxanthin; Natural pH Indicator; UV-Vis Spectrophotometry; AcidBase Titration; Green Chemistry.

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This study compared fresh beetroot extract, a commercial dehydrated beetroot powder extract, and phenolphthalein side by side, using UV–Vis spectrophotometric scanning across a buffered pH range (1.3 - 11.5) and a weak acid-strong base titration (0.1 M CH₃COOH against 0.1 M NaOH). The fresh extract retained strong, stable absorbance at 480 nm and 535 nm across the acidic-to-neutral range, declining sharply only above pH 8-9, close to where phenolphthalein’s absorbance rose, an intersection marking a shared transition zone. The powdered extract, by contrast, showed a consistently weak, largely pH-insensitive signal, with its apparent absorption maximum shifted to 300 nm.

Keywords : Beetroot; Beta Vulgaris; Betalains; Betacyanin; Betaxanthin; Natural pH Indicator; UV-Vis Spectrophotometry; AcidBase Titration; Green Chemistry.

Paper Submission Last Date
30 - September - 2026

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