ANALYSIS OF BHA, BHT AND TBHQ IN CHEWING GUM BY GC AND GC MS/

Simple and rapid extraction and determination methods were developed f or the analysis of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxyto luene (BHT) and tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in chewing gum by GC and GC/MS. The antioxidants were extracted with acetonitrile from sam ples, and the extract was evaporated to dryness. The residue was disso lved in ethyl acetate. This solution was injected into GC and GC/MS in struments. Recoveries of BHA, BHT and TBHQ ranged from 81.4 to 98.9%, from 80.7 to 106% and from 70.8 to 116%, respectively, and the detecti on limits of these antioxidants were 1 ppm in GC analysis and 0.1 ppm in GC/MS analysis.