Method Validation and Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Vegetable Oils by HPLC-FLD

Abstract

The aim of this work was to determine the level of contamination of different groups of vegetable oils available on the Polish market with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, i.e. benzo(a)pyrene and sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene, the content of which in foodstuffs is limited by Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1125 of 10 July 2015. The research materials were refined rapeseed oils, sunflower oils, olive pomace oil, rapeseed oils with olive oil and unrefined soybean and coconut oils. The research methods included process of saponification of the vegetable oils, extraction of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons fraction, clean-up by use a column packed with aluminum oxide and elution by petroleum ether, and then quantitative and qualitative determination of by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection method. Values of limit of detection and limit of quantification obtained during validation of the method were 0.18 and 0.25 μg/kg, respectively, and were significantly lower than the respective maximum values given in Commission Regulation (EU) 836/2011. The highest polyaromatic hydrocarbons content was found in unrefined coconut and soybean oils. The benzo(a)pyrene content and sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene in all the tested sample did not exceed the maximum levels given in Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1125.

Physicochemical, Antioxidative, and Sensory Properties of Refined Rapeseed Oils

“…The presence of PAH in these oils indicates a lower efficiency of refining processes, higher temperature used during the rapeseed conditioning or risk of exogenous pollutions. The concentrations of PAH in the studied rapeseed oils were lower in comparison with the results of B[a]P (0–1.92 μg kg −1 ), Chry (0–2.40 μg kg −1 ), B[a]A (0–1.30 μg kg −1 ), and B[b]F (0–1.35 μg kg −1 ), as well as Σ4PAH (0–6.0 μg kg −1 ) reported by Zachara et al () and Larsson et al () for refined rapeseed oils.…”

Contamination of Tea and Tea Infusion with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

“…Due to the lack of appropriate reference materials representing the composition of tea, the results of PAH determination in black dried tea by HPLC-FLD method proceeded by extraction and purification procedure by QuEChERS technique were compared to the respective results of PAH determination by the method with use of glass chromatographic column packed with alumina [ 26 ]. Taking into account the uncertainty estimated for each of the methods, it was found that there were no statistically significant differences between the obtained results ( Figure 2 ); therefore, the QuEChERS method can be recommended for determination of PAHs in tea due to considerably shorter analysis time and less chemical reagent consumption.…”

“…In the initial stage of the research, a comparison of two methods of extraction and purification of the PAHs was made [ 25 ]: the method involved use of a glass column filled with aluminum oxide [ 26 ] and the QuEChERS procedure. For this purpose, a sample of black tea was used.…”

“…Calibration curves were performed by external standard method, using the standard substance in five concentrations in the range of 0.10–10.00 ng/mL. The curves were plotted as linear functions: y = a∙x, where x is the peak area of the standard substance and y is of the measured signal [ 26 ].…”

Determination of benzo(a)pyrene in fried and baked foods by HPLC combined with vesicular coacervative supramolecular solvent extraction

“…Then, the extract is cleaned up using a solid phase extraction column (silica, alumina, florisil, etc.). Available scientific reports have described the analysis via different techniques of extraction, purification and detection (Zachara et al 2017a; IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans 2010; Conchione et al 2015;Zachara et al 2017b;Rey-Salgueiro et al 2009;Kumari et al 2013;Liu et al 2016). Zachara et al (2017b) adopted a method including the process of saponification, extraction and clean-up using a self-made column packed with aluminum oxide for the determination of PAHs in vegetable oils.…”