Analysis of Saccharin as Trichloromethylthio Derivative by Thin-Layer and Gas Chromatography

A method has been developed for the analysis of saccharin by gas chromatography. Saccharin was converted to the trichloromethylthio derivative by treatment with perchloromethylthiol in aqueous alkaline solution. The derivative was extracted with carbon tetrachloride and chromatographed on a 1.5% OV-1 phase supported on Shimalite W at 190° using pyrene as an internal standard. The average recovery of added amount of saccharin from orange juice and canned orange was 99%. A sensitive method for the detection of saccharin by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of the trichloromethylthio derivative has also been developed. A quantity of 1-2μg of the derivative could be detected on TLC layer by spraying the developed plate with 1% ethanolic solution of resorcinol or 0.06% solution of permanganate in acetone.