Mohammad-Hossein Sorouraddin ^a,*, Masoud Saadati ^a,b, Fariba Mirabi ^a

^a Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
^b Department of Science, Ardabil Allameh Tabatabaei Campus, Farhangian University, Iran

 

 A simple and relatively fast image-analysis method using digital images, obtained with a flatbed scanner, has been described. The method was used for the simultaneous determination of four common food dyes, namely, carmoisine, brilliant blue, sunset yellow, and quinoline yellow, in binary mixtures in commercial products without a need for any prior separation steps. The results obtained were validated against a standard high-performance liquid chromatography method and a good agreement was obtained. The parameters affecting the experimental results were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the method provided acceptable linear ranges (20−250 mg/L) with correlation coefficients higher than 0.998, suitable precision (relative standard deviation ≤
4.5%), and limits of detection between 4.82 and 8.05 mg/L.

 

Keywords: flatbed scanner, food additive, food color, image analysis, simultaneous determination