Determination of 4-Methylimidazole in Ammonia Caramel Using Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). (29th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wieczorek, Martyna N.; Przygoński, Krzysztof; Jeleń, Henryk H.
• Other Names: Di Maro Antimo Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of food quality. Volume 2018(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-03-29
• Subjects: Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Standards -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1155/2018/4696074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-9428

Abstract

Abstract : One of Maillard reaction products formed in the production of ammonia caramel is 4(5)-methylimidazole (4-MeI) classified as carcinogen. A method of 4-MeI determination based on ion-pair extraction and derivatisation with isobutyl chloroformate with subsequent gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis was proposed. Tandem mass spectrometry was applied to reduce the influence of matrix and increase the selectivity and sensitivity of the method. Triple quadrupole GC-MS system was used for this study. The collision energies were optimized for MRM mode. The detection (LOD) and quantification limits (LOQ) of the elaborated method were 17 and 37.8 μ g kg −1, respectively, repeatability was <15% RSD for analyzed caramel samples, and the recovery for 4-MeI was 101%. Comparison of MS/MS with SIM detection on the same instrument proved almost 30 times lower LODs achieved by tandem mass spectrometry compared to SIM. Described method can be routinely used for monitoring 4-MeI as a quality and safety marker in the production of ammonia caramel.