A simple gas chromatography method for the determination of ethylcarbamate in spirits.
Ethylcarbamate is a toxic component of certain spirits. For its determination, the spirit is concentrated to one-fifth of its volume, extracted with ethylacetate and analysed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (FID). The method saves time and material and has proved to be a reliable test in different laboratories. The ethylcarbamate concentrations in 170 samples of Swiss origin are presented. The mean values were 1.0 mg/l in cherry brandies, 1.5 mg/l in plum brandies and 0.4 mg/l in Williams pear brandies. Ethylcarbamate concentrations may increase during storage, especially under the influence of daylight.
D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D014520:Urethane / Q000032:analysis*
D002273:Carcinogens; D014520:Urethane