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Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2003, Pages 46-52
Determination of Low-molecule-weight Aldehydes in Packed Drinking Water by High Performance Liquid Chromatography
CHIA-FEN TSAI, HUEI-WEN SHIAU, SHU-CHI LEE AND SHIN-SHOU CHOU*
National Laboratories of Foods and Drugs, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, 161-2 Kuen-Yang Street, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan, R.O.C.
(Received: July 9, 2001; Accepted: November 7, 2001)
ABSTRACT
A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and propionalde-hyde in packed drinking water was developed. Aldehydes were derivatized with 0.5 mL DNPH (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine) reagent and 0.1 mL 2 M perchloride at 55C in 60 minutes, then adsorbed in C18 glass cartridge (was performed), eluted with 5 mL acetonitrile and finally determined by HPLC. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde-DNPH-derivatives were seperated on a Cosmosil 5C18-MS column by using acetonitrile/D.I. water (55/45, v/v) as a mobile phase, and detected with UV 360 nm. Recovery studies were performed by fortifying D.I. water with formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde at various concentrations from 2 to 200 ppb. Recovery rates were in the range of 84.4 103.2%, 90.2 122.1% and 60.8 100.4%. The detection limits for all three aldehydes were 1 ppb.
Sixty-three packed drinking water samples collected from various markets were analyzed. These results were well below the guideline for drinking water quality by WHO (900 g/L).
Key words: packed drinking water, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, DNPH derivative
INTRODUCTION
As early as 1981, packed drinking water has been available in Taiwan. In recent years, along with prosperous economic development, water pollution is becoming a serious problem. The deterioration of water quality in some area has aroused public concern about pursuing nature, pure and healthy drinking water. Packed water, including mineral water, packed drinking water, distilled water and reverse osmosis water, with the ready-to-drink character, are therefore full of the market.
Other than satisfying thirst, there are various marketing strategies like gymnasium, entertainment ground, or SPA etc. Packed water could even replace traditional boiled water as the main source of drinking water at home and in families place, as well.
Due to early moldy-like and recent benzene contamination, the safety of packed water are public concerns. Water could contain low molecular weight aldehydes like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde because of natural biological...