Application Note 20735
Determination of Phthalate Esters
in Soft Drinks By GC-MS
Anila I. Khan, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Runcorn, UK
Introduction
Phthalate esters are the main plasticizers used as softening
agents in the production of PVC. These compounds are
reported to act as endocrine disruptors, and exposure to
high levels can cause harmful effects in the human
reproductive system. There have been reports from the
U. S. Food and Drug Administration that certain foods
and beverages, particularly fruit juices, contain high levels
of phthalates. In some cases, deliberate adulteration of
soft drinks with phthalate esters has been reported.
The EU recently published a methodology without an
extraction method for bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)
in sports drink at concentrations between 3000 and
100000 ng/mL [1]. In this application note, an analytical
procedure for the quantitative analysis of 15 phthalate
esters between the concentrations of 100 and 5000 ng/mL
is reported. The extraction of the phthalate esters is based
on liquid-liquid extraction. Extraction efficiencies are
reported at low (300 ng/mL) and high (1000 ng/mL)
concentrations in spiked drink sample.
Key Words
TraceGOLD TG-5MS, phthalate esters, soft drinks, liquid-liquid extraction
Abstract
This application note demonstrates the quantitative analysis of phthalate
esters in soft drinks. The combination of Thermo Scientific™ ultra low bleed
TraceGOLD™ TG-5MS columns with a Thermo Scientific™ TRACE™ GC
coupled with a Thermo Scientific™ ISQ™ mass spectrometer provides high
sensitivity for the detection of phthalate esters in selected ion monitoring
(SIM) acquisition mode.
