Determination of benzoic acid in meat and meat products by gas chromatography

Abstract

A gas-chromatographic method for the determination of benzoic acid in meat and meat products is described with particular reference to the open-pack type of minced meat sold for domestic pets. The sample is steam distilled, the acidified distillate extracted with diethyl ether, the extract evaporated to dryness and the residue dissolved in methanol and subjected to gas chromatography on 3 per cent. SE-30 on 80 to 100-mesh Chromosorb W at 170 °C with dimethyl phthalate as the internal standard. The method gives satisfactory results in the range 0·1 to 0·5 per cent. of benzoic acid in the meat.