Determination of sucrose esters of fatty acids in food additive premixes by gas chromatography and confirmation of identity by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatographic (GC) method was developed for the determination of sucrose monoesters of fatty acids (mono-SuE) and sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) in food additive premixes. Mono-SuE and SAIB fractions were prepared by column chromatography with either a C8 or a silica gel solid-phase extraction column. The mono-SuE fraction was acetylated and applied to a wide-bore GC column (0.53 mm x 15 m) by splitless injection for determination. The SAIB fraction was applied to the GC column without derivatization. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to confirm the identity of GC peaks. The detection limits for mono-SuE and SAIB were 0.005 and 0.01%, respectively. Mono-SuE (C12, C14, C16, C18, and C18:1) and SAIB were found in commercial food additive premixes and some foods.