Rapid separation and determination of synthetic and natural yellow dyes in food and drinks using mini-column packed with polyamine-modified silica

A green, rapid and simple method has been proposed for the separation and sorption-spectrometric and test-determination of synthetic (Quinoline Yellow, Sunset Yellow, Tartrazine) and natural (β-Carotene, Curcumin, Carmine) dyes. Mini-column filled with polyamine-modified silica were used for the first time for this purpose. Polyhexamethylene guanidine and poly(diallyldimethylammonium) - polyamine with a quaternary ammonium base - were used as polyamines. Synthetic dyes, Carmine were quantitatively extracted by aminated silicas at pH 1–2 and 5–8. The separation of synthetic and natural dyes was achieved at the stage of their desorption. β-Carotene and Curcumin were quantitatively desorbed by ethanol, while synthetic dyes were effectively retained by the surface of aminated silicas. The separation of synthetic dyes and Carmine was carried out using 0.25 M HCl. The proposed method showed good sensitivity, selectivity and accuracy of results when determining dyes in drinks, candies and jellies.