Determination of theobromine and caffeine in some Malaysian beverages by liquid chromatography-time-offlight mass spectrometry

Abstract

To determine the concentration of theobromine (TB) and caffeine (CF) in tea and other beverages using liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS). Methods: The extract of caffeine and theobromine from tea and other beverages was filtered by 0.45 μm nylon micro-syringe and then injected into a LC-ToF-MS system. Theobromine and caffeine were separated using Thermo Scientific C18-column (length 250 mm, width 2.1 mm and diameter 5 μm). Acetonitrile-methanol (ACN-MeOH, 3:1 v/v) was used as mobile phase B, while mobile phase A was 0.1 % FA in DIW. The volume injected was 30 μL at a rate of 0.3 mL/min. Results: Good linearity was obtained in the range of 0.3-400 and 0.2-200 mg/L for theobromine and caffeine, respectively (regression coefficient (R 2) > 0.970). The limits of detection were 0.15 and 0.05 μg/mL for theobromine and caffeine, respectively. The highest concentrations of caffeine and theobromine determined in tea samples were 159.1 and 255.8 mg/L, respectively. Conclusion: Theobromine and caffeine have been successfully analysed in tea, coffee and soft drinks. LC-TOF-MS is an accurate and promising instrument for the determination of the studied compounds in beverages.

Determination of Theobromine and Caffeine in Theobroma cacao Husk from Ethanolic Extract by GC-MS after CC Separation

“…Using LC-ESI-MS, according to [5], the researchers found that both compound (caffeine and theobromine) had the same fragmentation pattern in the peak m/z 137. As discussed in [14], using different extraction methods and HPLC, reported that both alkaloids had the same fragmentation pattern and declare that is possible to find out the superposition of theobromine, theophylline and caffeine as a mixture.…”

Transportation of Different Therapeutic Classes of Pharmaceuticals to the Surface Water, Sewage Treatment Plant, and Hospital Samples, Malaysia

“…Actually, the frequent detection of caffeine and theophylline in water samples is not surprising, as it is widely available in many drinks such as tea, coffee, cocoa, sport drinks, and soft drinks. Al-Qaim et al reported that caffeine was detected in different beverages and tea drinks in Malaysia [26]. Pedrouzo et al and Huggett et al reported that caffeine was detected at a maximum concentration, reaching up to 9945 and 1056 ng/L, in wastewater and surface water, respectively [27,28].…”