Development of a Green HPLC Method Using Ethanol in the Mobile Phase Composition for the Determination of Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate in Beverages

Abstract

Objective: This work aims to develop a novel and green high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for determining sodium benzoate (Na-BZT) and potassium sorbate (K-SBT) in beverages using ethanol as an environmentally friendly solvent in the mobile phase. Material and Method: The chromatographic parameters were optimized using the Box-Behnken design. Validation studies were carried out in accordance with international guidelines. Result and Discussion: The developed method displayed high accuracy (98.54-106.3%), precision (RSD≤5%), and specificity, with a total run time of 7 minutes. The limit of detection values for Na-BZT and K-SBT were 0.06 and 0.14 µg/ml, respectively. The use of ethanol, a less toxic solvent, minimized environmental impact compared to traditional solvents. The method's applicability was confirmed by analyzing ten different beverage samples. The results demonstrate the potential for broader application of ethanol-based HPLC methods in the beverage industry.