The analysis of food additives in carbonated beverages is important as many additives are controlled as part of the formulations of these beverages. In addition, analysis may detect possible counterfeiting of branded products. Being able to identify and quantify food additives in beverages quickly and with high sensitivity is therefore important.

Determinations of organic acids in beverages are important to maintain beverage freshness, minimize microbiological growth, and add a characteristic flavor. Additionally, analysis is required to meet product labeling requirements in 21 CFR part 101. Here organic acids in carbonated beverages are determined by capillary ion chromatography. Fast separations (8 min) were achieved by increasing the flow rate to 0.025 mL/min. The analysis was facilitated by the ICS-5000+ HPIC capillary IC system. An ICS-6000 can be used for this application.

Mono- and disaccharide sugar determinations are often used in the food and beverage industry to ensure the quality of a formulated product, to maintain or select for desired sweetness, and to characterize and confirm the source of the carbohydrates (cane, beet, or corn). This application demonstrates the determinations of high concentrations of sugars in beverages using a capillary IC system. Sugars were detected by HPAE-PAD with 4-potential waveform and Au on PTFE working electrode and 0.015” thick gasket.

Phosphoric and citric acids are critical additives to colas for flavor and preservation. However carbon dioxide, added for flavor and as a preservative, interferes with accurate determinations of phosphate and citrate. In this method, carbon dioxide gas as carbonate is removed by the CRD device as the sample is introduced by the autosampler. Citrate and phosphate were separated on IonPac Fast Anion III column optimized for fast 5 min separations. Refer to AN169 for more information on fast citrate and phosphate analysis.

Sucralose (trichlorogalactosucrose or 1,6-dichloro- 1,6-dideoxy-b-D-fructofuranosyl-4-deoxy-a-D-galacto- pyranoside) is a non-nutritive sweetener used in beverages. Detection of sucralose is challenging because carbohydrates lack a strong chromophore. In contrast, high performance anion exchange (HPAE) chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) is a sensitive, selective and direct method to determine carbohydrates. Sucralose in a reduced-carbohydrate carbonated beverage is retained longer and therefore well-resolved from fructose and sucrose on the CarboPac PA20 column.