Application of ACC method to synchronous luminiscence: determination of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in beverages

A new method based on the Q parameter, that permits the determination of th e C-compound A/C-compound B ratio without preparing calibration graphs of t he two compounds, is proposed. This method has been applied to signals obta ined by synchronous luminiscence. Simultaneous determination of alpha-tocop herol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in beverages using synchronous fluoresce nce has been carried out. To isolate the compounds from samples, liquid ext raction with n-hexane as the organic phase was employed. The presence of in terferences was tested using the apparent content curves (ACC) method and t he Calpha-tocopherol/ Calpha-tocopheryl (acetate) ratio was calculated usin g the Q parameter. The reproducibility and detection limit for the determin ation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate were 6.6% and 0.016 mg/L and 1.8% and 0.017 mg/L, respectively.