Synthetic colorants diode array detection

Recently a new method was developed for the complete liquid chromatographic separation and diode array detection of standard mixtures of the 14 most frequently used synthetic colorants. Protocols for RP-HPLC - " and IP-HPLC techniques have been extensively described and the techniques were compared with micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, - which has been shown to be suitable for the analysis of synthetic colorants. 

Five synthetic and five natural colorants were identified and quantified in lyo-philized dairy products and fatty foods using an automatic method based on solid phase extraction using a stationary phase followed by RP-HPLC C,g columns for the sequential retention of colorants and diode array detection. Lyophilization of the samples coupled with the separation procedure provided clean extracts despite the complexity of the food matrices and preserved the sample for at least 2 months without changes in colorant concentrations. The detection limits achieved for the colorants were found in a wide range from 0.03 to 75 pg/g of the lyophilized sample, according to the limits established by the European Union. ... 

A Gratzfeld-Hiisgen, R Schuster. Sensitive analysis of synthetic colors using HPLC and diode-array detection at 190-950 nm. Hewlett Packard application note no. 12-5964-3559E, Hewlett Packard, Germany, 1995. 

Ma, M., X. B. Luo, B. Chen, S. P. Sub, and S. Z. Yao. 2006. Simultaneous determination of water-soluble and fat-soluble synthetic colorants in foodstuff by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray mass spectrometry. /. Chromatogr. A 1103(1) 170-176. 

The combined use of a continuous flow system and a spectrophotometer for sample screening to discriminate between synthetic and natural colorants is also available. With a very simple flow system on a column packed with natural materials, one can discriminate natural and synthetic colorants. The natural (not retained) ones can be determined in the first step and the synthetic (retained) ones in the second step after their elution. For yellow, red, green, blue, and brown, natural or synthetic colorants were chosen as models. The specific maximum wavelength for each color (400,530, and 610 mn, respectively) was selected by a diode array system. A complete discrimination of natural and synthetic colorants was obtained for concentrations of natural colorants (in the absence of synthetic ones) up to 2000 (yellow), 2000 (red), and 10,000 (brown) times that of the detection limits (DLs) of synthetic additives. This method was applied to screen fruit drinks and candies. ... 

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