Quantification of artificial sweeteners in alcoholic drinks using direct analysis in real-time QTRAP mass spectrometry

• Published in: Food chemistry 2021-04, Vol.342, p.128331-128331, Article 128331
• Main Authors: Li, Xiaomin, Li, Shuangqing, Li, Hongmei, Wang, Jing, Luo, Qin, Yin, Xiong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcoholic Beverages - analysis; Alcoholic drinks; Artificial sweeteners; Direct analysis in real time (DART); Food Analysis - methods; Mass Spectrometry; Matrix effect; QTRAP mass spectrometry; Rapid quantification; Sweetening Agents - analysis; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128331

•Artificial sweeteners have been widely used in alcoholic drinks.•The detection of artificial sweeteners in alcoholic drinks is highly desirable.•DART-QTRAP/MS was developed to quantitate artificial sweeteners in alcoholic drinks.•The method could be applicable for large-scale detection of artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners have been widely used as replacements for sugars in foods. Rapid determination of artificial sweeteners contained in various foods are highly desirable for the routine analysis. Here, we report a robust approach based on direct analysis in real time coupled with QTRAP mass spectrometry to screen and quantitate simultaneously seven artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, neotame, sucralose, cyclamate and alitame in alcoholic drinks. The detection method merely involved a simple sample pretreatment process, with a good linearity, low limit of quantification, satisfied recovery and relative standard deviation for each target compound. More importantly, the approach is highly sensitive and accurate in monitoring the seven artificial sweeteners in whisky, Chinese liquors, beer and wines obtained from the supermarket. The results demonstrated that the approach described here could be suitable for large-scale application in routine quality control analysis of artificial sweeteners.