Browsing by Author "Isotupa, Minna"

3-Chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) and its esterified forms are food-borne contaminants. The chemical properties of fatty acid esters of 3-MCPD and their formation in foodstuffs as well as the analytical methods used to detect them were reviewed. The aim of the experimental work was to compare the analytical methods used to detect 3- MCPD esters and to obtain a method for detection of 3-MCPD fatty acid esters in Finnish Food Safety Authority (EVIRA). Synthesised 3-MCPD palmitate esters and palm oil samples were used to detect differences between the methods. Decomposition of 3-MCPD during hydrolysis with sodium methoxide was studied as well as the formation of excess 3- MCPD in palm oil samples during acid hydrolysis. 3-MCPD fatty acid esters were determined as free 3-MCPD by GC-MS after hydrolysis and derivatisation with phenylboronic acid. Free 3-MCPD was cleaved from 3-MCPD esters using acidic hydrolysis with sulphuric acid and methanol or transesterification with sodium methoxide. The amount of 3-MCPD obtained after the hydrolysis of synthesised 3-MCPD esters with sodium methoxide was only 45 % of that obtained after acid hydrolysis. There was a statistical difference between the means at a 95 % level of significance. The formation of excess 3-MCPD during acid hydrolysis was not proven from the results obtained from the palm oil samples. Results showed the opposite, as the amount of 3-MCPD obtained was larger after hydrolysis with sodium methoxide. The precision of the results was poor possibly due to a large systematic error and should be renewed in the future. The results showed there is a significant difference between the two methods of hydrolysis and that the choice between the methods can influence the recovery of the 3-MCPD esters.