Quantification of synthetic food dyes in beverages or pharmaceutical tablets by solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by UV/VIS spectrophotometry

Synthetic food dyes (E102, E104, E110, E122, E124, E132, E133) were concentrated by solid phase extraction on aminopropyl modified silica with aqueous sodium hydroxide or selected amines as eluents. Ponceau 4R (E124) was used as the model dye in the studies of the elution step. The recoveries of E124 differed depending on the eluent and ranged from 76% (AMP) to over 90% (TEA, imidazole, NaOH). Diluted aqueous triethanolamine (TEA) was found to be a suitable eluent for E124 but other dyes were eluted more effectively with NaOH. The solid extraction process was combined with UV/VIS spectroscopy to quantify synthetic dyes in drinks and OTC pharmaceutical tablets. The SPE-UV/VIS spectroscopic method was validated in terms of linearity, accuracy (recovery of dyes from spiked preparations), precision (repeatability, intermediate precision) and limits of detection/quantification. The method was found sufficiently fast, easy and reliable for the routine control of dyes in these types of products