Trace phthalate and adipate esters contaminated in packaged food

A method for trace analysis of two plasticizers, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate ( DEHP) and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate ( DEHA), contaminated in packaged curry paste were investigated by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector ( GC-FID). Curry paste samples were extracted by ultrasonic and solid phase extraction using Florisil (R) cartridge. Analysis by the GC-FID system provided limits of detection for DEHA and DEHP at 12 and 25 mu g L-1 and a linear dynamic range between 25 mu g L-1 to 60 mg L-1 with a coefficient of determination ( R-2) greater than 0.99. High recoveries were obtained, ranged from 91 to 99% and 88 to 98% for DEHP and DEHA with RSD lower than 7 and 10% respectively. The method detection limit and limits of quantitation were ranged from 27 to 30 and 90 to 100 mu g L-1. The analysis of curry paste samples showed concentrations of DEHP and DEHA in the range of 4.0 ng g(-1) to 0.61 mu g g(-1).