GC-MS 6800 to detect acrylamide solutions in foods - Database & Sql Blog Articles

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Acrylamide is a polar small molecule compound that has raised global concerns due to its potential neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. In 2002, the Swedish National Food Authority first discovered high levels of acrylamide in certain fried or baked foods, triggering widespread interest from international authorities and governments.

This compound primarily forms during the cooking of high-carbohydrate, low-protein plant-based foods at temperatures above 120°C. A 2012 study by the UK Food Standards Agency found that 13 types of food contained increased levels of acrylamide, which are known carcinogens. In response, China's Ministry of Health issued a report in 2005 assessing the risks of acrylamide in food, recommending reduced consumption of fried products to minimize health risks.

Given the complex composition of food and the low concentration of acrylamide, detection methods must be precise. In China, two primary standards are used: GB/T 5009.204-2014 for determining acrylamide content and SN/T 2096-2008 using an isotopic internal standard method. While the latter aligns with FDA guidelines, it requires expensive labeled internal standards, limiting its practical application.

Tianrui Instruments offers advanced solutions for acrylamide detection in food. Their GC-MS 6800 Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer is designed to meet the requirements of GB/T 5009.204-2014, providing a reliable and comprehensive solution for food safety testing.

1. Introduction to the Instrument

The GC-MS 6800 is a cost-effective gas chromatography-mass spectrometer developed by Tianrui Instruments. It features full independent intellectual property rights and several patented technologies. The system is widely used in environmental monitoring, electronics, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and food safety testing, among other fields.

Figure 1. Appearance of GC-MS 6800 Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer

2. Experimental Section

2.1 Introduction to Acrylamide

Acrylamide, also known as AM, is an unsaturated amide. It appears as a colorless, transparent flake crystal with a boiling point of 125°C (3325 Pa) and a melting point of 84–85°C. Its density is 1.122 g/cm³. It is soluble in water, ethanol, acetone, and chloroform but not in benzene or heptane. It can hydrolyze into acrylic acid in acidic or basic conditions.

2.2 Main Instruments, Consumables, and Reagents

GC-MS 6800 Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (Jiangsu Tianrui Instrument Co., Ltd.), rotary evaporator, shaker, centrifuge (≤10,000 rpm), vortex mixer, nitrogen concentrator, hexane, ethyl acetate, anhydrous sodium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, bromine, hydrobromic acid, potassium bromide, ultrapure water (conductivity ≤0.01 mS/m at 25°C), and a diatomite column (SLE-SPE 20g/60mL).

2.3 Detection Principle

Acrylamide was extracted from food samples using ultrapure water at 60°C and then purified through diatomite column extraction. After derivatization with bromine reagent, the sample was analyzed by GC-MS. Retention time and mass spectral characteristic ions were used for identification, while the external standard method was applied for quantification.

Brominated derivative equation: CH₂=CHCONH₂ + Br₂ → CH₂BrCHBrCONH₂

2.4 Instrument Test Conditions

Column: DB-5MS, 30m × 0.25mm × 0.25μm; Oven temperature programming: 120°C (3 min) → 30°C/min → 240°C (10 min); Injection port temperature: 240°C; Interface temperature: 240°C; Ion source temperature: 240°C; Carrier gas: helium (≥99.999%), flow rate: 1.0 mL/min; Ionization mode: EI; Ionization energy: 70 eV; Injection method: splitless; Injection volume: 1.0 μL; Determination method: TIC (Full Scan) for qualitative analysis and SIM mode for quantitative analysis.

Figure 2. Total Ion Chromatogram of Acrylamide Derivative under Full Scan

Figure 3. Mass Spectrum of Acrylamide Derivatives

3. Summary

The GC-MS 6800 provides accurate and reliable results for detecting acrylamide in food, making it a suitable tool for ensuring food safety and compliance with regulatory standards.