Enhancing iron(III) solubility using cassava and arrowroot starch

Iron(III) is sparsely soluble in aqueous solutions even in an acidic condition. The solubility of iron(III) can be enhanced by complexing it with saccharides. Iron-dextran and iron-sucrose have been used to treat iron-deficiency anaemia. This work investigates the enhancement of the solubility of iron(III) in aqueous solution by complexing it with polysaccharides from locally available starch. Iron(III) was complexed with cassava and arrowroot starch and the state of iron(III) in the solutions was examined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The results showed that the solubility of iron(III) could be enhanced by cassava and arrowroot starch. It was asserted that these polysaccharides prevent the hydrolysis and precipitation of the iron(III) as iron-oxide. These finding might lead to an alternative treatment for iron-deficiency anaemia.