Issue 28, 2024

A rapid and improved method for the determination of ethyl carbamate in foodstuffs of different matrices

Abstract

This work deals with the rapid and simple determination of the probable carcinogen ethyl carbamate (EC), which is naturally present in fermented food products. An undemanding, robust, and rapid pre-column derivatization utilizing a 9-xanthydrol reagent has been developed. The resulting derivative was subsequently analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection. As a result of the thorough optimisation of the chromatographic conditions, the run was completed in just 5 minutes, considerably speeding up the usual time of EC separation (30–60 min). Thanks to the fast separation, satisfactory yields (around 90%), negligible matrix effects, no interfering peaks, very low detection limit, and simple sample pre-treatment (for the very first time, the derivatization was performed in the presence of light and without any extraction step), the proposed method represents a significant improvement of the EC determination protocol used so far. After method validation, a total of fifty food samples were subjected to analysis without any additional sample pre-treatment despite their diverse matrix. Due to its robustness, simplicity, and low time, cost, and manual demands, this method is suitable for rapid screening of EC in both final food products and during their production.

Graphical abstract: A rapid and improved method for the determination of ethyl carbamate in foodstuffs of different matrices

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 Apr 2024
Accepted
13 Jun 2024
First published
01 Jul 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Anal. Methods, 2024,16, 4733-4742

A rapid and improved method for the determination of ethyl carbamate in foodstuffs of different matrices

V. Šantrůčková, J. Fischer and J. Klikarová, Anal. Methods, 2024, 16, 4733 DOI: 10.1039/D4AY00643G

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