Ultrasonic-assisted cloud point microextraction and spectrophotometric determination of Ponceau 4R in various beverage samples using Non-ionic surfactant PONPE 7.5

ABSTRACT

In the current study, a simple, cheap, and fast analytical procedure, termed ultrasonic-assisted cloud point microextraction (UA-CPME), combined with UV-VIS spectrophotometry, was developed for the pre-concentration and identification of Ponceau 4R in some beverage samples. Ponceau 4R was extracted from aqueous solution using polyethylene glycol mono-p-nonylphenyl ether (PONPE 7.5) as extraction solvent in the presence of Cu(II) at pH 6.0. Variables influencing the UA-CPME extraction efficiency such as pH, metal type and amount, temperature, ultrasonic effect, solvent type, non-ionic surfactant type and concentration were optimised in detail. Under optimum conditions, the analytical properties of the developed method were as follows: linear working range, 20–750 μg L⁻¹; limit of detection, 6.5 µg L⁻¹; and the pre-concentration factor, 200. The relative standard deviation (RSD%) obtained for 50 µg L⁻¹ (n = 5) of Ponceau 4R was 2.9%. The accuracy and precision of the method were evaluated by intra-day and inter-day studies. Finally, the developed method has been successfully applied to the separation and identification of Ponceau 4R in the selected samples and the recoveries ranged from 94.3 to 104.2%

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Ponceau 4R
• ultrasonic assisted-cloud point microextraction
• spectrophotometry
• food dyes
• food samples

Acknowledgments

Financial assistance from the Sivas Cumhuriyet University Scientific Research Projects Commission (CUBAP with projects number of F-586), Sivas in Turkey, is sincerely thanked. Thanks are also due to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nail Altunay for his meaningful help and contributions in the critical evaluation and preparation step of the research article.