Cola Samples Research Articles

Erosive potential of commonly available vapes: a cause for concern?

Objectives Relatively little is known about the erosive potential of vape products, an important consideration for dental health. This study analysed flavoured vapes with potentially low pH, including fruit and drink flavours.Methods The pH of 45 purposefully selected vapes was measured undiluted in triplicate. Serial dilution was conducted on the most erosive product to investigate if/when the erosive potential pH of 5.5 was reached. One of the most erosive samples was tested, undiluted and diluted, after four months of opening. Content analysis of the vape labels determined ingredients, place of manufacture, product usage instructions and health warnings.Results Eighty-four percent of undiluted vape samples had a pH below 5.5. Erosive potential was not predicted by the flavour, with orange and cola samples higher than anticipated (pH 3.56-6.23 and 5.04-5.63, respectively). Products that were predicted to be non-acidic such as vanilla showed considerable variation ranging from pH 4.69-5.63. Freshly opened or stored samples did not reach a non-erosive potential pH of 5.5 or above, even when diluted to represent concentrations used when vaped. Labels were not detailed enough to ascertain which ingredients were contributing to acidity or buffering capacity or to allow consumers to identify the least harmful products in terms of oral health.Conclusions Present labelling of commercially available vapes does not allow consumers to ascertain the erosive potential and possible dental damage that may be inflicted by their use. More effective labelling and/or health warnings are required to educate consumers and dental health professionals on these products.

Sensitive detection of trace 4-methylimidazole utilizing a derivatization reaction-based ratiometric surface-enhanced Raman scattering platform

Herein, a facile and fast surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method with ratiometric strategy was developed for detection of 4-methylimidazole (4-MI). Via a chemical derivatization reaction with 3-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (AMTA) diazonium salts, 4-MI could be converted to SERS-sensitive species. The SERS intensity ratio between the peaks at 1243 cm−1 and 1110 cm−1 (I1243/I1110) was used for the quantification of 4-MI. In addition, the method sensitivity was further improved by the aggregation of beta-cyclodextrin-modified Ag nanoparticles (beta-CD-AgNPs). Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) for 4-MI were 1.7 nM (S/N = 3) and 5.7 nM (S/N = 10), respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for 0.5 μM 4-MI was 8.2% (n = 20). This method was successfully used for the determination of 4-MI in cola samples with recoveries ranging from 92% to 106%. The present method is convenient, sensitive, selective, reliable and may have a promising application in determination of the compounds with an imidazole ring containing active hydrogen atoms.

Self‐Assembling Bifunctional Hydrophilic Magnetic Nanomaterials for Highly Efficient Enrichment of Parabens in Beverages Sample

AbstractPreservatives affect human endocrine systems and pose a potential threat to the environment, so developing a fast, low‐cost means to detect parabens is critical. In this work, a hydrophilic magnetic ball (Fe3O4@mSiO2@PDA‐IL@C18) is prepared via functionalized position control strategy. The imidazole‐based ionic liquid and mesoporous silica are outer bifunctional groups, which provide active sites for the extraction of preservatives by the π‐π interaction. Fe3O4@mSiO2@PDA‐IL@C18 was utilized to the selective enrichment of parabens with good linear range (0.05‐300 ng/mL), excellent recovery (94%‐105%) and precision (RSDs lower than 5.2%), and low detection limit (0.05 ng/mL). In the actual sample test, the prepared Fe3O4@mSiO2@PDA‐IL@C18 could specifically detect parabens from green tea and cola samples. The results displayed that we provided an efficient and simple method for the detection of preservatives in food.

Fabrication of functionalized magnetic microspheres based on monodispersed polystyrene for quantitation of allyl-benzodioxoles coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

Monodispersed magnetic microspheres were synthesized by the magnetization of the aminized polystyrene cores and the subsequent polymerization of allyl glycidyl ether, divinylbenzene and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, which exhibited excellent monodispersity in aqueous solution and high efficiency for allyl-benzodioxoles extraction. Various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) were employed to characterize the composites. Coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), a sensitive and simple magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) procedure based on the prepared microspheres was established for determination of allyl-benzodioxoles in cola-flavoured drinks. The factors affecting the extraction procedure, such as pH value, adsorbent amount, adsorption time, desorption solution and desorption time were optimized. The developed method was characterized by a high recovery (spiked at 5 μg L−1, 25 μg L−1 and 250 μg L−1), a low detection limit (0.05 μg L−1 for safrole and 0.08 μg L−1 for myristicin), a good linearity (correlation coefficients higher than 0.9990 for both) and a satisfactory repeatability (relative standard deviation below 3.7% for both, n = 3). The approach proposed here was confirmed to be fast and reliable for quantitative analysis of allyl-benzodioxoles in cola samples, especially at a trace level.

Voltammetric determination of caffeine by using gold nanoparticle-glassy carbon paste composite electrode

In the present study, simple and sensitive voltammetric determination of caffeine was carried out by using a gold nanoparticle-glassy carbon paste composite electrode (AuNP-GCPE) in 3.2mM H2SO4 (pH 2.5). The effects of supporting electrolyte, pH and AuNP amount on caffeine peak current were investigated. After the optimization of experimental parameters, analytical characteristics of AuNP-GCPE were examined and two linear ranges were obtained between 25–150μM and 200–1000μM with limit of detection values of 0.96μM and 4.90μM, respectively. Relative standard deviation for 50μM caffeine was also calculated as 7.52% (n=3). In order to evaluate the analytical performance of AuNP-GCPE, caffeine contents of various brands of cola samples were measured and compared with the results obtained by UV–Vis spectrometer. The obtained results by using the proposed composite electrode are in accordance with the caffeine contents that manufacturers claimed compared to UV–Vis. This composite electrode which utilizes the catalytic effect of AuNP with the simple preparation of GCPE, offers a fast and sensitive determination of caffeine in beverages as a practical application.

Determination of 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole and 2-acetyl-4-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroxybutyl)imidazole in caramel colours and cola using LC/MS/MS

Substituted imidazoles recently came under scrutiny as they may be indirectly introduced into cola beverages via the use of class IV (E150d) caramel colours and may pose health hazards. A LC/MS/MS method was developed for determining 2- and 4-methylimidazole (2-MI, 4-MI) and 2-acetyl-4-(1,2,3,4)-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole (THI) in beverages and caramel colours. The method is very rapid and easy to conduct as it requires only dilution in eluent for sample preparation. For 4-MI, the recovery was between 94 and 102% for spiked cola samples. The limit of detection was 2μg/L in the measuring solution (corresponding to 40μg/L for cola samples diluted 1:20 during sample preparation). 97 cola samples and 13 caramel colours from Germany and France were analysed. From the 3 analytes, only 4-MI was found in the samples with very varying concentrations (non quantifiable traces to 0.6mg/L in colas and 175-658mg/kg in E150d). The exposure for cola drinkers in worst case scenarios is estimated to be 2-5μg/kg bodyweight/day, which is judged as being only a low risk for public health.

Development and Validation of a Green High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Some Artificial Sweeteners and Caffeine in Soft Drinks

A simple and green high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed to determine the acesulfame K, saccharin, aspartame, and caffeine content in soft drinks without the use of toxic organic solvents. Separation was carried out on a C18 column using ethanol–phosphate buffer as the mobile phase at 0.8 mL/min. Optimum separation was achieved in 15 min. Acesulfame K, saccharin, aspartame, and caffeine were detected at 225, 217, 217, and 280 nm, respectively. The calibration curves were linear (correlation coefficient ≥0.999) in the selected range of each analyte. The limit of detection was 0.024 mg/L for acesulfam K, 0.011 mg/L for saccharin, 0.024 mg/L for caffeine, and 0.014 mg/L for aspartame. The relative standard deviations in inter and intra-laboratory precision studies varied from 0.44% to 1.61%. Recoveries of the analytes from spiked diet cola samples were between 98.40% and 100.25%. The validated method was found to be accurate and precise in the working calibration range. The developed analysis method was applied to 56 soft drink samples and was statistically compared with a conventional method by using test material. In conclusion, the developed HPLC analysis method provided more accurate values than the conventional analysis method.

Pop-cola acids and tooth erosion: an in vitro, in vivo, electron-microscopic, and clinical report.

Introduction. Manufactured Colas are consumed universally as soft drinks. Evidence about the acid contents of Cola-beverages and its effects on teeth is rare. Aim. To assess (i) cola acidity and buffering capacity in vitro, (ii) tooth erosion after swishing with colas in vivo (iii) scanning electron microscopic effects on teeth of colas, and tooth-brush abrasion, and (iv) report a clinical case of erosion from cola consumption. Materials and Methods. (i) We measured six commercially available pop “Cola beverages”, pH, and buffering capacities using a pH-Mettler Automatic Titrator, with weak solution of Sodium Hydroxide (ii) two cohorts, one with teeth, the second without teeth rinsed with aliquots of Cola for 60 seconds. Swished cola samples tested for calcium and phosphorus contents using standardized chemical analytical methods (iii) enamel, dentine, and the enamel-cemental junction from unerupted extracted wisdom teeth were examined with a scanning electron microscope after exposure to colas, and tested for tooth-brush abrasion; (iv) a clinical case of pop cola erosion presentation, are all described. Results. Comparisons among pop colas tested in vitro reveal high acidity with very low pH. Buffering capacities in millilitres of 0.5 M NaOH needed to increase one pH unit, to pH 5.5 and pH 7 are reported. Rinsing in vivo with pop cola causes leeching of calcium from teeth; SEM shows dental erosion, and pop-cola consumption induces advanced dental erosion and facilitates abrasion. Conclusions. (i) Pop-Cola acid activity is below the critical pH 5.5 for tooth dissolution, with high buffering capacities countering neutralization effects of saliva; (ii) calcium is leeched out of teeth after rinsing with pop colas; (iii) SEM evidence explains why chronic exposure to acid pop colas causes dental frangibles; (iv) a clinical case of pop-cola erosion confirms this.

Hybrid silica polymeric monolith‐based in‐tube microextraction and CE for determination of bisphenol A in beverages

On-line concentration techniques in capillary electrophoresis, including stacking and sweeping, have a weak tolerance towards complex real samples. A phenyl-functionalized hybrid silica monolithic polymeric capillary column (id 530 microm) was prepared by in-situ co-condensation of phenyltriethoxysilane (PTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). In order to enhance the stability of a monolithic column within a wide-bore capillary, a novel and simple frit-preparation method for wide-bore capillaries was first introduced by immobilizing a short length of capillary of suitable outer diameter at the end of the monolithic capillary column during condensation of the sol-gel solution. The monolithic column was used for the extraction of bisphenol A (BPA) from cola samples, and the interfering compounds can be removed from the samples with 40% ACN solution (v/v) as eluent. The pretreated samples were further concentrated and separated using large-volume stacking and sweeping micellar electrokinetic chromatography. The method was successfully applied to the determination of bisphenol A spiked in cola, yielding a detection limit of 1.8 ng/mL. Close correlation coefficients and acceptable method reproducibility were obtained for bisphenol A over a linear range of 0.005-0.200 microg/mL.

Comparison of Dynamic Headspace Concentration on Tenax with Solid Phase Microextraction for the Analysis of Aroma Volatiles

Two different headspace extraction methods for aroma volatiles were compared: headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME), using both poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and polyacrylate (PAc) fibers, and dynamic headspace trapping using a glass-lined stainless steel trap, containing Tenax TA. The samples studied were a cola and a diet cola. Extraction time and temperature were the same for each analysis. The dynamic headspace method extracted more volatiles from both samples than did SPME with either filament. The profile obtained using the PDMS fiber was similar to that of the Tenax TA extract but was much less intense. The PAc extract contained fewer components than the PDMS extract but included two polar volatiles not present in the other two extracts. Reproducibilities were similar for both techniques. Qualitative differences between the two cola samples were small, although the total quantity of volatiles extracted from the cola was up to 4 times greater than for the diet cola. Keywords: Cola; gas chrom...

ATP Screening Method for Presumptive Detection of Microbiologically Contaminated Carbonated Beverages

ABSTRACTA rapid adenosine triphosphate (ATP) screening method utilizing a vacuum‐filtration procedure was developed for the presumptive detection of yeast and mold contamination in carbonated beverages. First, a baseline of ATP content was established by examining 240 retail cola samples that did not contain detectable microorganisms. Then an additional 182 retail samples were assayed for ATP and Colony Forming Units (CFU). Of these, less than 3% were presumptive‐positive by the ATP method. All 182 samples were microbiologically negative for yeast. When 140 cola samples were spiked with various yeast types, more than 89% of samples were correctly identified as presumptive‐positive at an arbitrary product specification level of 5 CFU/mL.

Bioluminescent Standard Curves for Quantitive Determination of Yeast Contaminants in Carbonated Beverages

The bioluminescent adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay is a rapid and sensitive tool for quantitating contaminant yeast levels in beverage samples. A simple model system is described for generating standard curves relating yeast ATP to conventional colony forming units (CFUs). Bioluminescent standard curves were generated by spiking commercial cola or diet lemon-lime samples with Saccharomyces rouxii ATCC 36141. Yeast cells were concentrated onto filters under vacuum and ATP was subsequently extracted from the cells for analysis. Correlation coefficients for each S. rouxii standard curve indicated strong linear relationships between ATP and CFU levels (r> 0.90). A composite standard curve (r = 0.97) of data collected from all the S. rouxii-spiked studies predicted yeast levels from spiked cola samples in later experiments. When predicted yeast CFU values were plotted against conventional yeast CFU values for three different yeast types, a correlation coefficient of r = 0.82 was obtained.

The Use of an Automated Device in the Direct Simultaneous Determination of Heavy Metals in Commercial Coca Cola By DPASV

Abstract The performance of a polarographic analyser equipped with a long-lasting, sessile-drop mercury electrode is described in the direct, simultaneous determination of heavy metals (cadmium, copper and lead) in some Coca Cola samples (drawn from commercial bottles or tins). The determinations were performed by the differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric technique using a programmed fully automated sequence (i.e., deposition-stripping-recording). The results obtained (1-3, 6-25 and 1.5-3.3 ppb for cadmium, copper and lead, respectively) as well as those previously obtained in the stripping analysis of some sea-waters and mineral-waters samples suggest that the proposed automated device ensures sufficient sensitivity and accuracy to be employed in the DPASV determination of toxic metals (at trace and subtrace levels) in natural waters and beverages.