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

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 P 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 P were observed when MIPs were used as stationary phase in SPE compared with the non imprinted polymers (NIPS). 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.