Molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction for detection of sudan I in food matrices

Abstract: Sudan I is a synthetic azoic dye employed as an additive in foods, and in particularly in those containing chilli powders, because of his intense red–orange colour. Now European Community does not allow “Sudan I” as an additive in foods because of its demonstrated cancerogenity. Several methods were developed to detect the presence of this compound (HPLC, GC/MS). However when “Sudan I” is mixed just in traces in foods, very expensive instruments are necessary (LC/MS/MS) to reveal it. This study describes the synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for solid phase extraction (MISPE) using Sudan I as template. This procedure allows to concentrate this compound in order to make it detectable by HPLC. Furthermore we investigated the ability of these MISPE cartridges to absorb selectively Sudan I from food matrices. Considerable differences in the interaction with “Sudan I” were observed when MIPs were used as stationary phase in SPE compared with the non imprinted polymers (NIPs). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]