Analysis of residual solvent in thickeners by headspace gas chromatography using a standard addition method

Abstract

Headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) is an accepted method for analysis of residual solvents in pharmaceuticals, food additives and food. The amounts of residual solvent present in various food thickeners were analysed by HS-GC standard addition method. Conditions for the HS-GC were optimised, and equilibration time was determined to be 40 min at 60°C for the determination of residual solvent. The results were very similar to those obtained by distillation and gas chromatography (Distillation-GC). We conclude that both methods are equally efficient for the determination of residual solvent in thickeners. In addition capillary column (Aquatic-2 GL Sciences Co.) was used to analyze by headspace or distillation. Corresponding author: Chiye Tatebe, Division of Food Additives, National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1, Kami-yoga, Tokyo 158-8501, Japan