Arsenic and lead determination in D&C red No. 6 lakes and D&C red No. 7 lakes containing barium sulfate using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract

Background: Color additives requiring batch certification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) specification limits for certain elements and are usually analyzed by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). However, analysis of some color additives presents difficulties. Objective: An XRF method was developed for quickly determining whether barium sulfate-containing color additives certifiable as D&C Red No. 6 lakes and D&C Red No. 7 lakes meet the CFR specifications for arsenic (As) and lead (Pb). Method: Difficulties in preparing XRF standards and analyzing As and Pb in matrices with the heavy x-ray absorber barium (Ba) were overcome by first preparing As- and Pb-fortified cellulose, then blending color additive samples with fortified and unfortified cellulose to produce XRF calibration materials. Satisfactory compensation for changes in intensity caused by Ba absorption was achieved by measuring varying concentrations of As and Pb at several concentrations of Ba. Results: Test samples of barium sulfate-containing D&C Red No. 6 lakes and D&C Red No. 7 lakes were analyzed by the XRF method and by an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. Conclusions: The ICP-MS method poses some difficulties and is time consuming. In contrast, the XRF method requires very little sample preparation, is nondestructive, uses calibrations that are stable for long periods of time, and offers acceptable determination limits (1 mg/kg As, 4 mg/kg Pb) which are less than the CFR specification limits (3 mg/kg As, 20 mg/kg Pb). Highlights: The new XRF method is applicable for use in routine batch certification.