Synthetic colorants solid-phase extraction

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. ... 

Gonzales, M., Gallego, M., and Valcarcel, M., Liquid chromatographic determination of natural and synthetic colorants in lyophilized foods using an automatic solid-phase extraction system, J. Agric. Food Chem., 51, 2121, 2003. 

Valcarcel and co-workers proposed in 2003 an automatic system for the determination of riboflavin in lyophilized food products using a solid-phase extraction process that included columns filled with cotton or silica C18 for the sequential retention of synthetic colorants and natural colorants, respectively (Gonzalez et al. 2003). In this case riboflavin was assessed as an authorized natural colorant for total estimation of this class of compounds. The analytical characteristics of this methodology are summarized in Table 18.3. 

The identification of synthetic colorants (pure or mixtures) in foods is usually carried out using spectrophotometry but the resolution of complex mixtures in food requires a previous separation of extract components by SPE and chromatographic techifiques. Dual wavelength, solid phase, and derivative spectrophotometric methods combined with chemometric approaches have been used. ... 

Only for dietary supplements or processed food samples, extraction of anthoeyanins followed by solid phase purification with subsequent analysis by HPLC with UVA/ IS detection is performed as first level analysis. The matrix in those samples is complex and may include synthetic colorants in accordance with applicable food legislation, hence simple UVA IS analysis would yield most certainly erroneousness results. At this stage of analysis a decision is necessary on whether or not HPLC/MS analysis has to be performed. HPLC/ MS is powerful for the confirmation of anthocyanin structures but seldom useful for quantification as the calibration is complicated and robustness is low. 

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