Determination of eight synthetic food colorants in drinks by high-performance ion chromatography

Eight synthetic food colorants (Amaranth, Brilliant Blue, Indigo Carmine, New Red, Ponceau 4R, Sunset Yellow, Tartrazine, Allura Red) were determined by high-performance ion chromatography on an anion-exchange analytical column with very low hydrophobicity and visible absorbance detection. Gradient elution with hydrochloric acid–acetonitrile effected both the chromatographic separation of these colorants and the on-line clean-up of the analytical column, which was very advantageous for routine analysis. High-performance ion chromatography may be a solution to the chromatographic analysis for some water-soluble, organic analytes with strong hydrophobicity. The method has been applied to the determination of colorants in drinks and in instant drink powder. No time-consuming pretreatment, as used in conventional liquid chromatography, was needed.