Rapid determination of methyl mercury in fish and shellfish: collaborative study

A modification of the official AOAC method for determining methyl mercury in fish and shellfish was studied in 8 laboratories. Methyl mercury is isolated from homogenized, acetone-washed tissue by adding HCl and extracting into toluene the methyl mercuric chloride produced. The extract is analyzed for methyl mercuric chloride by electron capture gas chromatography. Collaborators determined methyl mercury in blind duplicate homogenates at 2 levels in tuna and at 1 level in swordfish and oysters. Collaborators also analyzed single homogenates of swordfish and oysters containing methyl mercury at a second level. Both fortified and unfortified tissues were analyzed. Methyl-bound mercury in the commodities ranged from 0.50 to 2.30 micrograms Hg/g. Reproducibility coefficients of variation ranged from 4 to 15%. Accuracy, measured by comparison to reference values, ranged from 92 to 101%. Recovery from fortified homogenates ranged from 86 to 98%. Reference values and unfortified levels were determined in the author's laboratory by replicate analysis of fortified and unfortified commodities. The method has been approved interim official first action.     

Determination of sulfite in foods and beverages by ion exclusion chromatography with electrochemical detection: collaborative study

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method for determination of total sulfite in foods and beverages by alkali extraction followed by ion exclusion chromatographic separation and electrochemical detection (IEC-EC) was collaboratively studied by 9 laboratories. Blind duplicate samples of starch, diluted lemon juice, wine cooler, dehydrated seafood, and instant mashed potatoes were analyzed without spiking and with added sulfite at 2 levels. The initial sulfite levels varied from 0 to 384 ppm SO2, and the levels added varied from 10 to 400 ppm. The initial sulfite levels determined by the IEC-EC method and the Monier-Williams method were in good agreement. Recovery of added sulfite by the IEC-EC method was generally higher than that by the Monier-Williams method. Within-laboratory repeatability (RSDr) for the IEC-EC method varied from 4.4 to 26.0%, and overall reproducibility (RSDR) varied from 8.5 to 39.3%. The collaborators found the method to be fast, sensitive, and easy to use, which makes it a useful alternative to the Monier-Williams method. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Gas chromatographic determination of pentachlorophenol in gelatin: collaborative study

Eleven collaborators participated in this study of a gas chromatographic method for the determination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in gelatin. Following acid hydrolysis of a 2 g sample, PCP is extracted with hexane and partitioned into KOH solution. After reacidification, PCP is again extracted with hexane for determination by electron capture gas chromatography on a 1% SP-1240DA column. Three duplicate practice samples (0.0, 0.5, and 1.5 ppm) and 5 blind duplicate collaborative samples (0.0, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, and 2.0 ppm) were analyzed by each collaborator. Mean recoveries of PCP in the collaborative samples ranged from 88% at the 0.02 ppm fortification level to 102% at the 0.1 ppm level; the overall mean recovery was 96%. Interlaboratory coefficients of variation ranged from 16.4% for the 0.1 ppm fortification level to 22.9% for the 0.5 ppm level; the overall interlaboratory coefficient of variation was 19.5%. The method has been adopted official first action.     

Determination of free (pH 2.2) sulfite in wines by flow injection analysis: collaborative study

A method for the determination of free sulfite in wine by flow injection analysis (FIA) is described. The method involves liberation of sulfur dioxide from the wine at pH 2.2, with detection by decolorization of a malachite green solution. The method was collaboratively studied, and the results indicated an average reproducibility of 12% for white wine samples (average level 12.1 ppm SO2) and 26% for red wine samples (average level 3.1 ppm). When the FIA method was compared to an aeration/oxidation method, the results indicated a high degree of correlation between the 2 methods. The FIA method has been adopted by AOAC official first action.     

Determination of chlorinated methylthiobenzenes and their sulfoxides and sulfones in fish

A procedure was developed to determine chlorinated methylthiobenzenes and their respective sulfur oxidation products in fish. Perch samples fortified at the 0.1 ppm level with 2,4,5-trichloromethylthiobenzene, pentachloromethylthiobenzene, and their sulfoxides and sulfones were extracted and cleaned up using an adaptation of the official AOAC method for multiple residues of organochlorine pesticides. The Florisil column cleanup was modified; 200 mL 6% petroleum etherethyl ether eluted the methylthiobenzenes, 200 mL 50% PE-EE eluted the sulfones, and 200 mL EE eluted the sulfoxides. Recoveries determined by electron capture (ECD) gas chromatography (GC) were 75-101% for the methylthiobenzenes and their sulfones and 63-93% for the sulfoxides. Co-extracted materials in the Florisil eluates that interfered with the ECD/GC quantitation were removed by partitioning the sulfoxides and sulfones into sulfuric acid and by thin layer chromatography on silica gel, using methylene chloride-hexane (50 + 50) as the developing solvent. Seven fish samples containing residues of chlorinated benzenes or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were examined for chlorinated methylthiobenzenes, methylthio-PCBs, and their oxidation products by matching GC retention times obtained with the EC detector and a flame photometric detector operated in the sulfur mode. These analytes were not found in the fish samples above a detection level equivalent to 0.02 ppm 2,4,5-trichloromethylthiobenzene.     

Collaborative study of the gravimetric method for the determination of mercury in chlorinated pesticide formulations.

The official first action AOAC gravimetric method for mercury, 6.C01-6.C03, and the official CIPAC titrimetric method, M2.3, were collaboratively studied by 4 CIPAC laboratories, using the same 4 samples analyzed by AOAC collaboration in 1972. Averages at the 3.7 and 3.4% level were the same by both methods whereas the CIPAC method produced, on the average, 4% higher results, all levels included. The AOAC method performs well in the presence of copper and chlorinated pesticides and is less complex to use than the present CIPAC method for mercury in these mixtures. The method has been adopted as official final action.     

Determination of 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC), the active component of the antifertility agent nicarbazin, in chicken, duck, and goose plasma

4,4'-Dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) was extracted from chicken, duck, and goose plasma and isolated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. DNC was detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 347 nm and quantified by comparison to a calibration standard. Recovery data were determined by analyzing DNC-fortified control plasma. The mean recovery of DNC in fortified chicken plasma samples was 99.7 +/- 1.9% for 0.18 and 9.1 ppm DNC, and in fortified duck and goose plasma samples was 99.5 +/- 4.9% and 101.4 +/- 4.5%, respectively, for 0.18, 9.1, and 18 ppm DNC.     

Improved spray reagent for thin layer chromatographic method for detecting uric acid: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted to validate the substitution of an improved single spray in the official AOAC thin layer chromatographic method for identifying uric acid (UA) from bird and insect excreta. The proposed reagent, which is a dilute aqueous solution of ferric chloride and potassium ferricyanide, requires neither a heating step nor a pH indicator. Its preparation time, specificity, and sensitivity to low levels (5-50 ng) of UA were compared with those of the official sprays. The improved spray took 1/5 as long to prepare as the official sprays. Neither the proposed spray nor the official sprays gave false positive reactions with compounds similar to UA. For bird and insect excreta samples, at the 95% confidence limits, the false negative rate was between 0 and 9.7% for the proposed spray and between 0.7 and 18.7% for the official sprays. Sensitivity results showed that the proportion positive for the proposed spray was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than for the official sprays at the 15 ng UA level. The proposed changes have been adopted official first action.     

Atomic absorption spectrophotometric method for determination of polydimethylsiloxane residues in pineapple juice: collaborative study

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric method for determination of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) residues in pineapple juice was collaboratively studied by 9 laboratories. PDMS residues are extracted from pineapple juice with 4-methyl-2-pentanone and the extracted silicone is measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using a nitrous oxide/acetylene flame. Collaborators analyzed 5 samples including 1 blind duplicate. Reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) were 13.1% at 31 ppm, 6.9% at 18 ppm, 14.8% at 7.9 ppm, and 16.1% at 4.9 ppm PDMS. The method has been approved interim official first action by AOAC.     

Postharvest treatments for the reduction of mancozeb in fresh apples.

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and hydrogen peroxyacetic acid (HPA) treatments on the degradation of mancozeb and ethylenethiourea (ETU) in apples. This study was based on model experiments at neutral pH and temperature. Fresh apples were treated with two different levels of mancozeb (1 and 10 microg/mL). Several of the treatments were effective in reducing or removing mancozeb and ETU residues on spiked apples. Mancozeb residues decreased 56-99% with chlorine and 36-87% with chlorine dioxide treatments. ETU was completely degraded by 500 ppm of calcium hypochlorite and 10 ppm of chlorine dioxide at a 1 ppm spike level. However, at a 10 ppm spike level, the effectiveness of ETU degradation was lower than observed at 1 ppm level. Mancozeb residues decreased 56-97% with ozone treatment. At 1 and 3 ppm of ozone, no ETU residue was detected at 1 ppm of spiked mancozeb after both 3 and 30 min. HPA was also effective in degrading the mancozeb residues, with 44-99% reduction depending on treatment time and HPA concentrations. ETU was completely degraded at 500 ppm of HPA after 30 min of reaction time. These treatments indicated good potential for the removal of pesticide residues on fruit and in processed products.     

Quantitative determination of tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate by densitometry of thin layer chromatograms

The flame retardant tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (Tris) was chromatographed on silica gel thin layer plates, using ethyl acetate-hexane (30+70) as the developing solvent. Tris was visualized by spraying the chromatogram with 1% aqueous silver nitrate followed by exposure to ultraviolet light for 40 min. Tris appeared as dark gray spots on a white background; the spots were quantitated by densitometry at 660 nm. The lower level of sensitivity was 50 ng; calibration plots were linear from 50 to 800 ng. The procedure was developed to determine the levels of unmetabolized Tris remaining after exposure to sewage sludge suspensions. Recovery of Tris from 3 sewage sludge samples fortified at the 1.0 ppm level averaged 97%.     

Liquid chromatographic-electrochemical determination of ethylenethiourea in foods by revised official method

AOAC official method 29.119-29.125 was revised to determine ethylenethiourea (ETU) directly by a liquid chromatographic-electrochemical (LC-EC) determinative technique and to improve ETU recovery. ETU is extracted from food products with a methanol-aqueous sodium acetate solution. A portion of the concentrated filtrate is added to a column of diatomaceous earth, and ETU is eluted with 2% methanol in methylene chloride to separate it from food coextractives, which are retained on the column. The eluate is collected in a siliconized flask and evaporated, the residue is dissolved in water, and 20 microL of solution is injected onto an LC graphitized carbon column. ETU is eluted from the LC column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-aqueous 0.1M phosphoric acid-water (5 + 25 + 70), and the eluted ETU is detected by using an amperometric electrochemical detector equipped with a gold/mercury working electrode. Recovery data were obtained by fortifying 13 food products with ETU: baked potatoes; canned applesauce, mushrooms, creamed spinach, green beans, spinach, and tomatoes; cooked fresh cabbage and frozen collards; fresh celery and lettuce; grape jelly; and powdered sugar cake donuts. Raw celery was found to cause low ETU recoveries. Average percent recoveries of ETU from the other 12 food products were 92 with a standard deviation of 12 for the low (0.05 and 0.1 ppm) fortification levels and 90 with a standard deviation of 6 for the higher (0.5 and 1 ppm) fortification levels. The limits of quantitation were 0.01 and 0.02 ppm for food products with low and high sugar content, respectively.     

The Luke et al. method for determining multipesticide residues in fruits and vegetables: collaborative study

Ten laboratories analyzed unfortified and fortified samples of lettuce, tomatoes, and strawberries for organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides by applicable portions of the comprehensive multipesticide method of Luke et al. The 3 crops were fortified with 6 pesticides, alpha-BHC, dieldrin, chlorpyrifos, acephate, omethoate, and monocrotophos, each at 3 levels per crop. Included in the 54 fortifications were 16 pairs of blind duplicates: same pesticide, crop, and level. Recoveries were calculated by area comparisons with known reference materials, using the responses obtained from 2 separate element-specific gas chromatographic (GC) systems. The organochlorine pesticides were chromatographed on a methyl silicone column and detected with a Hall 700A electrolytic conductivity detector, and the organophosphorus pesticides were determined with a flame photometric detector after being chromatographed on a specified DEGS column material. Chlorpyrifos was quantitated on both GC systems. Mean recoveries ranged from 82.6% for acephate fortified at 0.5000 ppm in strawberries to 118.1% for 0.0636 ppm fortification of chlorpyrifos in lettuce. Interlaboratory coefficients of variation ranged from 4.0% for 0.6360 ppm fortification of chlorpyrifos in tomatoes to 17.8% for the 0.0636 ppm chlorpyrifos level in lettuce. The procedure features essentially no cleanup before GC and proved comparable to existing multiresidue methods for pesticides of the class types studied, as evidenced by the intra- and interlaboratory measurements of precision and recoveries obtained. The method with the 2 GC systems has been adopted official first action.     

Mass spectrometric identification and gas-liquid chromatographic determination of 2-chloroethyl esters of fatty acids in spices and foods.

The 2-chloroethyl esters of 5 fatty acids have been identified in spice and food samples by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC/MS). Twenty-four spice samples were analyzed for the 2-chloroethyl esters of fatty acids by AOAC official multiple residues pesticide procedure using GLC with microcoulometric detection. The esters of capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and linoleic acids have been identified at levels up to 1400 ppm. 2-Chloroethyl linoleate was the most abundant ester in all samples. Several foods analyzed by the same procedures showed levels of 2-chloroethyl linoleate as high as 35 ppm. Recoveries from fortified samples ranged from 84 to 98% for the various esters. A method using an acid-catalyzed esterification reaction was developed to rapidly determine the fatty acid content of these spices. GLC analysis with microcoulometric detection was used. Recoveries from fortified samples ranged from 92 to 110%. After 2 spice samples found to be free of 2-chloroethyl esters were fumigated with ethylene oxide, the level of 2-chloroethyl linoleate reached 77 ppm. All levels of 2-chloroethyl esters were confirmed by GLC/MS.     

Thin layer chromatographic method for the detection of uric acid: collaborative study

A collaborative study has been completed on an improved method for the detection and confirmation of uric acid from bird and insect excreta. The proposed method involves the lithium carbonate solubilization of the suspect excreta material, followed by butanol-methanol-water-acetic acid thin layer chromatography, and trisodium phosphate-phosphotungstic acid color development. The collaborative tests resulted in 100% detection of uric acid standard at the 50 ng level and 75% detection at the 20-25 ng level. No false positives were reported during tests of compounds similar to uric acid. The proposed method has been adopted official first action; the present official final action method, 44.161, will be retained for screening purposes.     

Gas-liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric indentification of chlorinated trifluorotoluene residues in Niagara River fish.

Several unknown halogenated compounds were detected in Niagara River fish using a method similar to the AOAC multiresidue method for chlorinated pesticides in high-moisture foods. From gas-liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GLC/MS) data and GLC retention times on 3 columns, 7 of the compounds were identified as 4-chloro-alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorotoluene (0.17--2.0 ppm), 2-chloro-alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorotoluene (0.002--0.1 ppm), 3,4-dichloro-alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorotoluene (0.02--0.28 ppm), 2,4-dichloro-alpha,alpha-alpha-trifluorotoluene (0.02--0.17) ppm), 2,3-dichloro-alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorotoluene (trace-0.005 ppm), 2,6-dichlorotoluene (not quantitated), and 2,4,5-trichlorotoluene (0.31 ppm was found in the only sample quantitated). Other isomers of tri- and tetrachloro-alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorotoluene and di-,tri-, and tetrachlorotoluene were also present in these samples. Recoveries of the specific chlorinated trifluorotoluenes identified in these samples ranged from 86 to 108%.     

Direct plating method for enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus: collaborative study.

Considerable evidence has been published regarding the adverse effect of sodium chloride on physiologically impaired cells of Staphylococcus aureus, such as are to be expected in processed foods. A direct plating method for enumeration of S. aureus eliminating the use of sodium chloride was devised and subjected to collaborative study by 16 analysts. Results obtained by the direct plating method were compared to those obtained by the AOAC official first action method (46.036--46.040). Participating analysts examined duplicate samples at population levels of 91, 34, and 20 S. aureus/g. Coefficients of variation among analysts were considerably lower for the direct plating method (31, 81, and 48%, respectively) than for method 46.040 (59, 156, and 150%, respectively) at all 3 population levels. High coefficients of variation for the direct plating method at 2 of the 3 levels were due principally to low populations of S. aureus. The direct plating method has been adopted as official first action for general purpose use and use of method 46.036--46.040 has been restricted to raw food ingredients and nonprocessed foods.     

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of six sulfonamide residues in egg and animal tissues

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method using selected ion monitoring mode for simultaneous determination of 6 sulfonamides in egg and edible animal tissues has been developed. Sulfonamides are extracted from a sample with acetonitrile. The extract is passed through a silica cartridge column and concentrated. Diazomethane in ether is added to methylate sulfonamides. After evaporation, the residue is dissolved in methylene chloride and cleaned up by silica gel column chromatography. The methylene chloride eluate containing sulfonamide-methyl derivatives is evaporated to dryness, redissolved in ether and partitioned between 6N hydrochloric acid. The acid phase is made alkaline, extracted with ether, and the ether solution, after concentration, is analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode. Average recoveries from egg and silver salmon fortified at 1 and 0.2 ppm levels with 6 sulfonamides are 99.2 and 84.3%, respectively; coefficients of variation are 7.03 and 11.20%, respectively. Detection limits are 0.01-0.05 ppm.     

Rapid method for determination of leucogentian violet in chicken fat by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

The metabolite leucogentian violet (LGV) was found in chicken fat obtained from chickens dosed with gentian violet (GV); however, no residues of the parent compound, GV, and its oxidized metabolites were found. Therefore, a rapid method was developed for the specific determination of LGV in chicken fat. Chicken fat containing LGV is separated from the cellular protein with methylene chloride. LGV is then separated from the fat by partition extraction with an aqueous acid phase in which LGV is protonated, and the fat is discarded with the methylene chloride layer. The aqueous solution is neutralized, LGV is re-extracted into methylene chloride, and the methylene chloride is evaporated. An acetonitrile-water solution containing LGV is filtered before liquid chromatography using a cyano column, an acetate buffer-acetonitrile mobile phase, and an electrochemical detector set at a potential of +1.000 V. Average recoveries of LGV from chicken fat were 83.9% with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 12.9% for the 5 ppb level; 82.8% with a CV of 13.5% for the 10 ppb level; and 77.7% with a CV of 2.56% for the 20 ppb level. Levels of incurred LGV in chicken fat averaged 49.3 ppb with a CV of 2.43%.     

Determination of total sulfite in shrimp, potatoes, dried pineapple, and white wine by flow injection analysis: collaborative study

A method for the determination of total sulfite in shrimp, potatoes, dried pineapple, and white wine by flow injection analysis (FIA) was collaboratively studied by 8 laboratories. In the method, the sample solution is reacted with sodium hydroxide to liberate aldehyde-bound sulfite. The sample stream is acidified to produce SO2 gas, which diffuses across a Teflon membrane in the gas diffusion cell into a flowing stream of malachite green. The degree of discoloration of the malachite green is proportional to the amount of sulfite in the sample solution. Red wine was included in the study but interlaboratory precision for these samples was not satisfactory and correlation with Monier-Williams results was poor. The present method is not recommended for use with these samples. For shrimp, potatoes, dried pineapple, and white wine, average reproducibility (RSDR) of results was 25% for samples at 10 ppm SO2 and 10% for samples at greater than 50 ppm. Overall average reproducibility was 14%. Recoveries of sulfite added to samples averaged 80%. Comparison of FIA with the Monier-Williams method indicated comparable results by the 2 methods. The FIA method has been adopted official first action for determination of greater than or equal to 5 ppm total sulfite in shrimp, potatoes, dried pineapple, and white wine.