Rapid Gas Chromatographic Method for Determining Ethyl Carbamate in Alcoholic Beverages with Thermal Energy Analyzer Detection

Abstract
A rapid column elution method has been developed for the determination of ethyl carbamate (EC) in alcoholic beverages. The beverage is mixed with Celite and packed in a column containing deactivated alumina capped with a layer of sodium sulfate. EC is then eluted with methylene chloride. The method, using a gas chromatograph- thermal energy analyzer with a nitrogen converter for detection and quantitation of EC, has been applied to a variety of alcoholic beverages. Recoveries ± standard deviations of EC in wine and whisky fortified at the 20 and 133 µg/kg (ppb) levels averaged 87.3 ± 5.3 and 88.7 ± 3.6%, respectively. The method has a limit of detection of 1.5 ppb. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/ mass spectrometry was used to confirm the identity and quantitation of EC in selected beverage extracts.

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