Rapid analysis of 14 ultraviolet absorbents in plastic food contact materials by supercritical fluid chromatography on Sub-2-micron particles

Abstract

A rapid and reliable method based on supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) technology was established for the analysis of 14 ultraviolet (UV) absorbents in plastic food contact materials. The separation was optimized by employing different chromatographic conditions including stationary phases, organic modifiers, column temperatures and back pressures to achieve appropriate selectivity and resolution. The 14 UV absorbents were analyzed within 4.5?min on the sub-2-micron particles column (ACQUTY UPC² HSS C18?SB) via gradient elution with methanol as the organic modifier. The calibrations were carried out in the concentration range of 0.1–50.0?mg/L (except for UV-329 and UV-320 were 0.2–50.0?mg/L, UV-360 was 0.3–50.0?mg/L), and excellent linearity was observed with correlation coefficients (R²) greater than 0.99. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were in the range of 0.10–0.30?µg/g. The recoveries for accuracy were ranged from 90.4 to 114.1%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for repeatability was between 0.67 and 7.23%, respectively. The established method was successfully applied for the analysis of UV absorbents in five plastic food contact materials samples. The SFC method developed in this study can provide an alternative route for routine analysis of UV absorbents in the future.