Solid-phase extraction method for patulin in apple juice and unfiltered apple juice

Patulin, a mold metabolite, is commonly found in rotting apples. Some count ries regulate patulin at levels ranging from 30 to 50 mu g/L. Most analytic al methods for patulin in apple juice include liquid-liquid partitions. A s olid-phase extraction method has been developed for apple juice and unfilte red apple juice in the United States. A portion of the test sample (5 mL) w as passed through a macroporous copolymer cartridge and was washed with 1 m t 1% sodium bicarbonate and then with 1 mt 1% acetic acid. Patulin was elut ed with 3 mt 2% acetonitrile in anhydrous ethyl ether and was determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with UV detection at 276 nm. Recoveri es ranged from 93 to104% in test samples spiked at 20-100 mu g/L.