Rapid micropreparation procedure for the gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric determination of BHT, BHA and TBHQ in edible oils

A rapid, accurate and organic solvent saving procedure has been developed for the GC/MS determination of three phenolic antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) in vegetable oils. The method involves two-step microextraction and a centrifugal procedure in a 2 mL autosampler vial, consuming only 50 mg sample and total 1 mL acetonitrile. Recoveries of the phenolic antioxidants when spiked to soya bean oil, peanut oil and cereal cooking oil at 50, 200 and 250 mg/kg, respectively were in the ranges 95.6–104.3% for BHT, 99.7–107.5% for BHA and 93.6–103.8% for TBHQ with the relative standard deviation (RSD) were less than 3% for their independent measurements. The developed method was repeatable and could be applied to determine trace amounts of phenolic antioxidants in vegetable oils.