title: Determination of sulfur dioxide in foods by modified Monier-Williams distillation and polarographic detection.
abstract: A rapid, sensitive polarographic method is presented for determining sulfiting agents in foods and beverages. The method is based on the modified Monier-Williams distillation followed by polarographic detection by differential pulse polarography or square wave voltammetry. A clearly defined wave is obtained by both techniques, with a current maximum at a potential (E) of about -600 mV vs an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The reaction is based on the reduction of sulfur dioxide at a dropping mercury electrode. Peak current was linear over the range 0-20 micrograms/mL. Quantitation is done by linear regression analysis of standard addition data or by using a standard calibration graph. Screening levels of less than 1 ppm total SO2 were easily achieved in the foods analyzed, which had levels from less than 1 ppm (cereals) to thousands of parts per million (dried fruit). Recoveries from fortified samples ranged from 70 to 108% at fortification levels of 20, 100, and 1000 micrograms/g.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D005504:Food Analysis; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D011048:Polarography; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013458:Sulfur Dioxide