scope:

This document specifies a gas chromatographic method using mass spectrometric detection for the determination of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) in hydrolysed vegetable proteins and other foodstuffs . The method has been validated in interlaboratory studies for malt extract, soup powder, bread crumbs, salami sausage, cheese alternative and hydrolysed vegetable protein. The sample is mixed with a deuterated internal standard, with sodium chloride solution and with a solid support material. The mixture is transferred to a chromatographic column and is first extracted with a mixture of n-hexane and diethyl ether for removing non-polar components. Then, 3-MCPD is eluted with diethyl ether, the eluate is concentrated and an aliquot portion is derivatized using heptafluorobutyrylimidazole. The solution is analyzed by gas chromatography using mass spectrometric detection.