Complex matrices such as food typically require acid hydrolysis or pretreatment prior to solvent extraction. Our newly updated flow-through solvent extraction system allows extraction of matrices which require acidic or alkaline pretreatment. The ability to extract these pretreated matrices significantly expands the capabilities of accelerated solvent extraction technology.This Application Note describes methods used for extraction of total fat from food samples and determination of fat content by FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) analysis based on AOAC Official Method 996.06 section G.

ASE is an extraction technique that utilizes elevated temperature and pressure to expedite the removal of analytes from various matrices. It has been accepted by the U.S. EPA as Method 3545 for environmental samples, and it has been applied to other sample extraction areas. The procedures described in this application note apply to the determination of fat content in various solid or semisolid foods such as snack foods and dog biscuits.

Residue analysis in crops and food products is routinely performed in regulatory and industrial laboratories around the world. Accelerated solvent extraction is an extraction technique that speeds the extraction process and reduces the total amount of solvent used. The system uses conventional liquid solvents at elevated temperatures and pressures, which results in increased extraction kinetics. Extraction of samples ranging from 1 to 30 g typically requires 12–17 min and 15–50 mL of solvent.

Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) is an extraction technique that speeds the extraction process and reduces the total amount of solvent used. The system uses conventional solvents at elevated temperatures and pressures, which results in improved extraction kinetics. The Dionex ASE 300 has the capability to extract samples with volumes as large as 100 mL. This application note reports on the use of the ASE 300 for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in fruits and vegetables.

As a result of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) enacted in 1990, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) require that the nutritional content of processed and packaged food is declared on the product label. This application updates AN 321 and demonstrates the fast and simple gravimetric determinations of total unbound fat in snack foods using the Dionex ASE 350 system combined with the Rocket Evaporator.