Simultaneous HPLC determination of carotenoids used as food coloring additives: applicability of accelerated solvent extraction

A sensitive HPLC multimethod was developed for the determination of the carotenoid food additives (CFA) norbixin, bixin, capsanthin, lutein, canthaxanthin, β-apo-8′-carotenal, β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid ethyl ester, β-carotene, and lycopene in processed food using an RP C30 column. For unequivocal identification, the mass spectra of all analytes were recorded using LC–(APcI)MS. For extraction, a manual process as well as accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) was applied. Important ASE parameters were optimized. ASE was used for the first time to extract CFA from various food matrices. Average recoveries for all analytes ranged from 88.7–103.3% (manual extraction) and 91.0–99.6% (ASE), with exception of norbixin using ASE (67.4%). Limits of quantitation (LOQ) ranged from 0.53–0.79 mg/L. The presented ASE method can be used to monitor both, forbidden application of CFA or the compliance of food with legal limits.