Determination of Total Gossypol in Cottonseed and Cottonseed Meals by Derivative UV Spectrophotometry

Abstract

A new method for the determination of total gossypol in cottonseed and cottonseed meals has been developed. The method involves oxalic acid hydrolysis of the bound gossypol in a methyl ethyl ketone-water azeotrope, partitioning the liberated gossypol into chloroform, and quantification by 2nd derivative UV spectrophotometry. The 2nd derivative transformation and measurement of the conventional analytical band around 300 nm permits direct quantification of all compounds containing naphthalene nuclei; chromogenic reaction is not required. The method was tested at concentration levels of total gossypol normally expected for cottonseed and cottonseed meal. Precision and accuracy data suggested an overall relative standard deviation of 4.0% and an overall recovery of 89.5%. Although results for cottonseed and solvent-extracted cottonseed meal analyses were comparable to those obtained by use of American Oil Chemists' Society methods, results were lower for screw-pressed meals. The lower results were attributed to the partial conversion of gossypol, during the cooking process of these meals, to compounds that differ in composition and structure from gossypol and which react with aniline to give false readings.