Abstract
A gas chromatographic analysis of five synthetic antioxidants BHA (tert-butyl hydroxy anisole), BHT (di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene), EP (ethyl protocatechuate), PG (propyl gallate), and IAG (isoamyl gallate) is described. BHA and BHT were detected without any chemical treatment with a column containing 2.5% SE-30 and 1.5% Carbowax 20M as a stationary phase. EP, PG and IAG were not detected without masking of OH groups. They were acetylated and the acetyl derivatives were completely separated with a column containing 20% SE-30 as a stationary phase. Using benzophenone as an internal standard, calibration curves for the assay were prepared. EP in soybean oil was determined with the mean recovery of 97.6% and with a standard deviation of 3.8%.
