Simultaneous determination of preservatives,sweeteners and antioxidants in foods by paired-ion liquid chromatography

Summary A paired-ion, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of sweeteners (dulcin, saccharin-Na and acesulfame-K), preservatives (sodium dehydroacetate, sorbic acid, salicyclic acid, benzoic acid, succinic acid, methyl-para-hydroxybenzoic acid, ethyl-para-hydroxybenzoic acid, n-propyl-para-hydroxybenzoic acid, isopropyl-para-hydroxybenzoic acid, n-butyl-para-hydroxybenzoic acid, and isobutyl-para-hydroxybenzoic acid), and antioxidants (3-tertiary-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and tertiary-butyl-hydroquinone). A mobile phase of acetonitrile-50 mM aqueous α-hydroxyisobutyric acid solution (pH 4.5) (2.2 : 3.4 or 2.4 : 3.6, v/v) containing 2.5 mM hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and a C₁₈ column with a flow rate at 1.0 mL/min and detection at 233 nm were used. This method was found to be very reproducible with detection limits ranged from 0.15 to 3.00 μg. The retention factor (k) of each additive could be affected by concentrations of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and α-hydroxyisobutyric acid, and pH and ratio of mobile phase. The presence of additives in some food samples was determined.     

同步荧光法测定食品中维生素B1

本文研究了食品中维生素Ｂ１的同步荧光法测定条件，采用氯化钾－乙醇作柱层析洗脱液，碱性介质中氧化后立即调为中性，并加入表面活性剂ＯＰ对体系增稳增敏，取代丁醇萃取，经济方便，用于几种粮食样品的测定，结果满意。     

一阶导数分光光度法测定蜂胶保健品中黄酮的探导

用一阶导数分光光度法测定了蜂胶保健品中黄酮。以芦丁为对照品，测定了蜂胶保健品中总黄酮总量。芦丁浓度在0－20mg/L内，一阶导数值与其浓度具有良好的线性关系，其回归方程为y=-0.00061-0.0065x,相关系数r=0.9998。方法简便、快速、准确。     

Quality assurance for the analytical data of micro elements in food

The micro element content of food is an important quality index due to the action of these elements on human health. In this article, we discuss how to ensure the reliability of analytical data on micro elements in order to truly represent the condition of food. Sampling, treatment of the analytical sample, selection of the analytical method, standard solution, and certified reference material, blank test, calibration of the instrument and equipment, application of the quality control chart, assessment of the final analytical result, and quality assurance system are briefly described. Received: 5 July 2001 Accepted: 19 November 2001     

人工神经网络法用于高效毛细管电泳分离条件优化的研究

把人工神经网络（ＡＮＮ）法应用于高效毛细管电泳（ＨＰＣＥ）分离条件的优化，给出了反向传播（ＢＰ）的ＡＮＮ模型的具体算法。用正交试验法同时考察了缓冲溶液组成、浓度、ｐＨ值和有机添加剂浓度等实验因素对ＨＰＣＥ分离合成色素和防腐剂的影响，采用误差反向传播方法建立了有效的ＡＮＮ预测模型，预测最佳分离条件，获得了满意的分离结果。     

1H NMR and UV-visible data fusion for determining Sudan dyes in culinary spices

Two data fusion strategies (variable and decision level) combined with a multivariate classification approach (Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis, PLS-DA) have been applied to get benefits from the synergistic effect of the information obtained from two spectroscopic techniques: UV-visible and ¹H NMR. Variable level data fusion consists of merging the spectra obtained from each spectroscopic technique in what is called “meta-spectrum” and then applying the classification technique. Decision level data fusion combines the results of individually applying the classification technique in each spectroscopic technique. Among the possible ways of combinations, we have used the fuzzy aggregation connective operators. This procedure has been applied to determine banned dyes (Sudan III and IV) in culinary spices. The results show that data fusion is an effective strategy since the classification results are better than the individual ones: between 80 and 100% for the individual techniques and between 97 and 100% with the two fusion strategies.     

Optimization of the Production of Thermostable endo-β-1,4 Mannanases from a Newly Isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger gr</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus flavus gr</Emphasis>

The aim of this work was to establish optimal conditions for the maximum production of endo-β-1,4 mannanases using cheaper sources. Eight thermotolerant fungal strains were isolated from garden soil and compost samples collected in and around the Gulbarga University campus, India. Two strains were selected based on their ability to produce considerable endo-β-1,4 mannanases activity while growing in liquid medium at 37 °C with locust bean gum (LBG) as the only carbon source. They were identified as Aspergillus niger gr and Aspergillus flavus gr. The experiment to evaluate the effect of different carbon sources, nitrogen sources, temperatures and initial pH of the medium on maximal enzyme production was studied. Enzyme productivity was influenced by the type of polysaccharide used as the carbon source. Copra meal defatted with n-hexane showed to be a better substrate than LBG and guar gum for endo-β-1,4 mannanases production by A. niger gr (40.011 U/ml), but for A. flavus gr (33.532 U/ml), the difference was not significant. Endo-β-1,4 mannanases produced from A. niger gr and A. flavus gr have high optimum temperature (65 and 60 °C) and good thermostability in the absence of any stabilizers (maintaining 50% of residual activity for 8 and 6 h, respectively, at 60 °C) and are stable over in a wide pH range. These new strains offer an attractive alternative source of enzymes for the food and feed processing industries.     

Reference materials to evaluate measurement systems for the nutrient composition of foods: results from USDA’s National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP)

Over a 6.5-year period a total of 2554 values were reported by nine laboratories for 259 certified or reference nutrient concentrations in 26 certified reference materials (CRM) submitted to contract laboratories, blinded, as part of the qualifying process for analytical contracts and in the routine sample stream as part of the National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program. Each value was converted to a Z′-score, reflecting the difference from the assigned value related to the combined expected analytical uncertainty plus the uncertainty in the CRM value. Z′-scores >|3.0| were considered unacceptable. For some nutrients (Na, folate, dietary fiber, pantothenic acid, thiamin, tocopherols, carotenoids, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids), >20% of Z′-scores were >|3.0|. For total fat, vitamin C, and niacin >25% of Z′-scores were >|2.0|. Components for which CRM data were best (more than 90% of Z′-scores <|2.0|) were Mg, P, Mn, Se, and vitamin B12. In some cases deviations from assigned values were not uniform across laboratories and materials. For Na almost all high Z′-scores were for low-Na matrices, suggesting analytical problems related to concentration. Figure Z′-scores for vitamins in certified reference materials Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this paper in order to specify the experimental procedure adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or the United States Department of Agriculture, nor is it intended to imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.     

Detection of low amount of irradiated ingredients in non-irradiated precooked meals

The application of the European Standards for the detection of irradiated food by thermoluminescence of silicates, electron–spin resonance spectroscopy of bones or gas chromatography–mass spectrometry of 2-alkylcyclobutanones does not allow the detection of irradiated ingredients included in small quantity in the matrix of a food which has not been irradiated, but which could be subjected to various processing technologies such as cooking, freezing or storage. The use of an enzymatic food hydrolysis carried out at moderated temperature, for the extraction of the food-contaminating silicate minerals and bone fragments, followed by a purification of the extracts by a high-density aqueous solution of sodium polytungstate, allows a simultaneous detection of weak inclusions (0.1% m:m) of irradiated spices and mechanically deboned turkey meat (MRM) included in various precooked foods. Moreover, the use of a supercritical fluid extraction procedure for the 2-alkylcyclobutanones or an additional purification step of the lipid extracts made it possible to lower the detection limit of the 2-alkylcyclobutanones radiation-induced from triglycerides. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, down to 0.5% (m:m) of irradiated MRM included in non-irradiated chicken quenelles could be detected.