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Detection of Methyl Orange in Saffron and Other Edibles Using Direct Injection Micellar Liquid Chromatography

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Abstract

A simple, sensitive, rapid and eco friendly micellar liquid chromatographic method was developed for the detection of banned color methyl orange in counterfeit saffron and prepared foodstuffs. Methyl orange (p-[[p-(dimethylamino) phenyl] azo] benzenesulfonic acid sodium salt) is a hazardous dye used in titration and is known to be used as common adulterant in counterfeit saffron and cooked foodstuffs like Jalebi (Indian sweet), mango shake, Namkeen (salted snacks), tomato ketchup and ice candy etc., due to its pleasant orange color. In the present work, methyl orange was detected in various food samples using direct injection micellar liquid chromatography without any pretreatment step. A C18 column with an optimum micellar mobile phase containing 0.05-M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 2 % pentanol buffered to pH 7 was used. Detection was carried out at 458 nm. The retention time was 3.7 min without showing any matrix effect. Linearity (r > 0.9999), intraday and interday precision RSD (%) was less than 1.00 in micellar media. Limit of detection and quantification was found to be 0.05 mg/kg and 0.10 mg/kg, respectively. Robustness study was also included as a part of method validation. The developed method proved to be reliable and sensitive for determination of methyl orange in real food samples.

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Acknowledgments

Vipin Ashok is thankful to the University Grants Commission (MHRD), Government of India, for awarding Rajiv Gandhi National Research Fellowship. The work was carried out as a joint venture between Dept. of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Universitat Jaume I, Castello, Spain and Dept. of Criminology & Forensic Science, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar (M.P.), India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Criminology & Forensic Science, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.), India

    Vipin Ashok & Devasish Bose

  2. Amity Institute of Forensic Sciences, Amity University, Noida (U.P.), India

    Nitasha Agrawal

  3. Area de Quiımica Analiıtica, QFA., ESTCE, Universitat Jaume I, 12080, Castelló, Spain

    Josep Esteve-Romero

  4. Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Mandi (H.P.), India

    Neeti Prakash Dubey

Authors
  1. Vipin Ashok
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  2. Nitasha Agrawal
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  3. Josep Esteve-Romero
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  4. Devasish Bose
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  5. Neeti Prakash Dubey
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Correspondence to Vipin Ashok.

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Vipin Ashok declares that he has no conflict of interest. Nitasha Agrawal declares that she has no conflict of interest. Josep Esteve-Romero declares that he has no conflict of interest. Devasish Bose declares that she has no conflict of interest. Neeti Prakash Dubey declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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Ashok, V., Agrawal, N., Esteve-Romero, J. et al. Detection of Methyl Orange in Saffron and Other Edibles Using Direct Injection Micellar Liquid Chromatography. Food Anal. Methods 10, 269–276 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-016-0578-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-016-0578-3

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