Methodological proposals for food matrix components, enriched foods and contaminants using capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry and UV/Vis detection

Author(s)

Tatiana Shizue Fukuji

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2011-12-20

Examining board members

Marina Franco Maggi Tavares; Helena Teixeira Godoy; Jorge Cesar Masini; Marcone Augusto Leal de Oliveira; Pedro Vitoriano de Oliveira

• Advisor: Marina Franco Maggi Tavares

Abstract

The present work involves the development of methods for food analysis in order to determinate phenolic acids in fruits, folic acid in enriched flour and Sudan dye in chilli products by capillary electrophoresis with UV/Vis and MS detection. The separation of ten phenolic acids (benzoic, caffeic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, ferulic, gallic, p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, syringic, and vanillic acid) was obtained by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). An electrolyte composed by 50 mmol L-1 of tetraborate and 7,5% methanol (v/v) allowed the baseline resolution of all phenolic acids under investigation in less than 15 min. In order to promote sample clean up, to preconcentrate the phenolic fraction and to release esterified phenolic acids from the fruit matrix, elaborate liquid-liquid extraction procedures followed by alkaline hydrolysis were performed. The proposed method was validated with limits of detection of 1.63-3.80 µg mL-1 and limits of quantification of 4.95-11.39 µg mL-1. The optimized method was applied to evaluation of phenolic contents of abiu-roxo (Chrysophyllum caimito), wild mulberry (Morus nigra L.) and tree tomato (Cyphomandra betacea). This work also optimized the extraction process and characterized the free and hydrolysed forms of phenolic acids in Juçara açaí (Euterpe precatória Mart.), Pará´s açaí (Euterpe oleracea) and commercial products such as frozen pulp and açaí desserts. For the determination of folic acid, on-line preconcentration studies were performed. The focalization of folic acid was obtained by CZE and MEKC by transient isotacophoresis. A simple method of extraction based on dissolution of flour in a Na2HPO4 solution followed by ultrasonication and the addition of concentrated HCl was adopted. However, the detection of folic acid in flour extract was obtained by MEKC with the large volume sample injection with eletrophoretic conditions of 40 mmol L-1 TBS and 30 mmol L-1 SDS, 15 kV and 310 nm. The limits of detection and quantification reached were 0.047 and 0.14 µg mL-1, which are suitable limits to quantify folic acid in enriched wheat flours. A method of Sudan dyes (I, II, III and IV) was developed by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with partial filling technique. Filling 25 % of the capillary with a MEKC solution containing 40 mmol L-1 NH4HCO3, 25 mmol L-1 SDS and 32.5 % ACN (v/v), a baseline separation of the four azo-dyes was obtained. The rest of capillary was filled with 40 mmol L-1 NH4HCO3 and 32.5 % ACN (v/v). After the optimization by CE-UV the method was applied to CE-MS coupling. To detect the compounds in MS the ionization parameters were optimized. The baseline separation of four compounds was obtained in less than 10 min with limit of detection within 0.57 to 0.75 µg mL-1 to UV-Vis detection and 0.05 to 0.2 µg mL-1 to MS detection. The method was efficient in the determination of these dyes spiked in tomato chilli sauces and chilli powder. (AU)