Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 26 No 4 (2022): 718 - 733

 

 

 

 

DETERMINATION OF 3-MONOCHLOROPROPANE-1,2-DIOL (3-MCPD) ESTERS IN EDIBLE PLANT OILS BY INDIRECT ACIDIC TRANSESTERIFICATION METHODS AND THE BPX-5 CAPILLARY COLUMN

 

(Penentuan Ester 3-Monokloroprapana-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) dalam Minyak Tumbuhan Boleh Dimakan dengan Kaedah Transesterifikasi Berasid Tidak Langsung dan Turus Kapilari BPX-5)

 

May Yee Wong^{1, 2}, Huey Fang Teh³, Sook Mei Khor¹*

 

¹Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science,

Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

²Behn Meyer R&D Services Sdn. Bhd., 47600 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

³Sime Darby Plantation Technology Centre Sdn Bhd, 1st Floor, Block B, UPM-MTDC Technology Centre III,

Universiti Putra Malaysia, Lebuh Silikon, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

 

*Corresponding author:  naomikhor@um.edu.my

 

 

Received: 19 Jan 2022; Accepted: 13 April 2022; Published:  25 August 2022

 

 

Abstract

3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and its ester are categorized as food toxicants that formed during high-temperature processing of fat-based matrices. It has been classified as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) due to its potential to induce cancer in humans. This study investigated the level of 3-MCPD esters in palm oil and other edible plant oils available in the Malaysian market. The samples were analyzed using indirect methods involving acidic transesterification, then quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) equipped with BPX-5 capillary column using selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The method performance showed good recovery between 92.80% to 105.22% and good reproducibility with RSD of 4.18% to 5.63% for three different concentrations of spiked 3-MCPD. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.11 mg kg^-1 and 0.14 mg kg^-1, respectively. The highest concentrations of 3-MCPD esters were detected in refined palm oil, ranging from 2.29 to 4.10 mg kg^-1, while 3-MCPD esters in other edible plant oils varied from <LOQ to 3.75 mg kg^-1. The validated results are presented to attract policymakers' attention and achieve the goal of ensuring consumer rights while monitoring food safety and quality.

 

Keywords:  3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, edible plant oils, food safety, food control

 

Abstrak

3-monokloroprapana-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) dan esternya dikategorikan sebagai bahan toksik makanan yang terbentuk semasa pemprosesan bersuhu tinggi matriks berasaskan lemak. Ia telah diklasifikasikan sebagai karsinogen manusia yang berkemungkinan (Kumpulan 2B) kerana potensinya untuk menyebabkan kanser pada manusia. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk menyiasat tahap ester 3-MCPD dalam minyak sawit dan minyak tumbuhan boleh dimakan lain yang terdapat di pasaran Malaysia. Sampel dianalisis menggunakan kaedah tidak langsung yang melibatkan transesterifikasi berasid, yang kemudiannya dikuantifikasi oleh kromatografi gas-spektrometri jisim (GC-MS) yang dilengkapi dengan turus kapilari BPX-5 menggunakan mod pemantauan ion (SIM) terpilih. Prestasi kaedah menunjukkan perolehan semula yang baik antara 92.80% hingga 105.22% dan juga kebolehulangan yang baik dengan RSD sebanyak 4.18% hingga 5.63% untuk tiga kepekatan berbeza 3-MCPD terpaku. Had pengesanan (LOD) dan kuantifikasi (LOQ) didapati masing-masing pada 0.11 mg kg^-1 dan 0.14 mg kg^-1. Kepekatan tertinggi ester 3-MCPD dikesan dalam minyak sawit ditapis, antara 2.29 hingga 4.10 mg kg^-1, manakala ester 3-MCPD dalam minyak tumbuhan boleh dimakan lain berbeza daripada <LOQ hingga 3.75 mg kg^-1. Keputusan yang disahkan dibentangkan dengan harapan dapat menarik perhatian penggubal dasar dan mencapai matlamat untuk memastikan hak pengguna sambil memantau keselamatan dan kualiti makanan.

 

Kata kunci:   3-monokloropropana-1,2-diol, kromatografi gas-spektrometri jisim, minyak tumbuhan boleh dimakan, keselamatan makanan, kawalan makanan

 

 

Graphical Abstract

 

 

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