Diphenylamine (DPA) is used as a dye fixative and antioxidant in industrial applications and as a produce preservative in agricultural operations. Despite its low toxicity to humans and the environment, there is controversy about its application on fruits and vegetables post-harvest to ensure long-term storage. Food safety advocates are concerned that daily ingestion of DPA, particularly in foods meant for babies, could have negative effects on children’s health. To mitigate potentially toxic effects of DPA, both the US and EU stipulate a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 5 μg/g for whole pears and a stringent MRL of 10 ng/g for all processed baby foods.
Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) provides a user-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional analytical methods used for detecting DPA in foods, such as GC-MS and GC-NPD. With Misa, trace level detection of DPA in infant food is achieved quickly and easily in a format that is easily adapted to diverse sample matrices.
This application note describes a simulated test procedure for detecting DPA in pureed pears marketed as food for infants. The assay is based on the acquisition of SERS-specific spectra for diphenylamine in chloroform extracts using Misa and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs).
To establish a reference spectrum, a pure DPA standard (100 μg/g in ethanol) was analyzed using Au NPs. The unique SERS spectrum shown in Figure 1 can be used to create a library entry for DPA.
Serial dilutions of a stock solution of DPA in ethanol were spiked into purchased pureed pears sold as baby food to provide a range of test samples: 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2.5, and 1 μg/g. Samples were mixed with a vortex, then 0.5 mL chloroform was added, and samples were mixed again for 1 minute. After allowing phase separation for 10 minutes, 100 μL of the bottom chloroform layer was siphoned with a pipette and transferred to a glass vial for evaporative heating. The extract residue was suspended in 450 μL of Au NPs and 50 μL of 0.5 mol/L NaCl. Each vial was vigorously shaken and immediately placed into the vial attachment on Misa for measurement.
| Instrument | Acquisition | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Firmware | 0.9.33 | Laser Power | 5 |
| Software | Misa Cal V1.0.15 | Int. Time | 5 s |
| Misa Vial Attachment | 6.07505.040 | Averages | 10 |
| ID Kit - Au NP |
6.07506.440 | Raster | ON |
Overlaid of baseline-corrected spectra acquired for each tested concentration shows high-resolution DPA detection down to 1 μg/g (Figure 2).
Detection of diphenylamine in the field
Add baby food to glass vial until approximately 1/4 full. Using a pipette, add chloroform to the same vial until halfway full. Shake mixture vigorously for 1 minute, and then rest for 10 minutes to permit separation. Using a pipette, carefully remove half of the bottom layer, avoiding the top layer. Transfer this solution into a clean glass vial and heat until dry on a hotplate (5 minutes). Using clean pipettes, add Au NPs to vial until halfway full, then add 2 drops of NaCl solution. Cap vial and shake to mix, then allow to rest for 5 minutes before inserting into the vial attachment on Misa for testing.
| ID Kit - Au NP | 6.07506.440 |
|---|---|
| includes: | Gold nanoparticles (Au NP) |
| Scoop | |
| Disposable pipettes | |
| 2 mL glass vials | |
| Reagents | |
| Chloroform | |
| NaCl solution | 3 g NaCl in 100 mL water |
| Test settings | Use ID Kit OP on MISA |
With successful, sensitive detection of diphenylamine in baby food, Misa is demonstrated to be a reliable QC tool for monitoring food safety, especially safeguarding the health of children. Misa is a portable and fully contained system, ideal for on-site testing and uniquely tailored for operation in a wide range of different environments.
Additionally, operators in postharvest produce treatment facilities who are at risk of high-level occupational exposure, for instance, would benefit greatly from a mobile monitoring system for such chemical hazards.
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