DETERMINATION OF ALIPHATIC-ALDEHYDES AS THEIR THIAZOLIDINE DERIVATIVES IN FOODS BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH FLAME PHOTOMETRIC DETECTION

A selective and sensitive gas chromatographic method for the determina tion of saturated and unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes in foods has bee n developed. After extraction of the sample with acetonitrile, aldehyd es were converted into their thiazolidine derivatives by the reaction with cysteamine, and then measured by gas chromatography with flame ph otometric detection. The calibration curves for aliphatic aldehydes in the range 20-2500 ng were linear and the detection limits at a signal -to-noise ratio of 3 were ca. 4-100 pg injected. Aliphatic aldehydes i n foods could be selectively determined by this method without any int erference from coexisting substances. Overall recoveries of aldehydes added to food samples were 82-111%. Analytical results for the determi nation of aliphatic aldehydes in various food samples are presented.