Brilliant Blue (BB) FCF, more commonly known as FD&C Blue #1, is the most commonly used blue dye worldwide for food and beverages. It is generally accepted as safe and non-toxic. Aside from foods labelled as organic or as free from artificial dyes, there is little objection to the use of BB at levels at or exceeding 100 μg/g in foods.

This application for Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) is unique. The benefit is twofold — successful detection of a fluorescent dye, and a unique sample cleanup technique that permits detection of a target that does not exhibit a strong SERS signal and is present in a complex matrix. It is well known that Raman identification can be overwhelmed by fluorescence, and sometimes SERS can be used as an alternative method of detection. In addition to being a strongly fluorescent dye, BB has a weak SERS signal; detection of such targets often requires extensive sample extraction before the SERS signal is detectable. While Misa successfully detects BB in direct sampling, this application describes a simple extraction method that improves detectability of BB with Misa.

This application note describes a procedure for detection of BB in a flavored drink mix. The assay is based on the acquisition of SERS-specific spectra for BB in aqueous and chloroform extracts using Misa and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs).

To establish a reference spectrum, pure BB standard at a concentration of 500 μg/mL in water was analyzed using Au NPs. The unique SERS spectrum shown in Figure 1 can be used to create a library entry for BB.

In a glass vial, 40 mg of sample was dissolved in 1 mL of benzethonium chloride solution (2 mg/mL in water). Benzethonium Cl is a cationic surfactant used to capture the anionic dye. Chloroform (0.5 mL) was added to this vial, the mixture was vortexed for 30 seconds, and then rested for 5 minutes to permit phase separation. 200 μL of the lower chloroform layer was carefully transferred by pipette to a fresh vial, which was placed on a hot plate for evaporative drying. Afterward, 450 μL of Au NPs and 50 μL of 0.5 mol/L NaCl were added to the dried residue. This vial was capped, shaken to mix, and immediately placed into the vial attachment on Misa for measurement.

The stacked spectra in Figure 3 confirm that this simple sample cleanup yields a BB spectrum with a profile much closer to the reference spectrum.

Detection of Brilliant Blue in the field

Using the large end of the scoop, add 3–4 scoops of sample to a 2 mL vial. Using clean pipettes for each reagent, add benzethonium Cl solution to the vial until halfway full, followed by 10 drops of chloroform. Cap and shake the vial vigorously to mix, then let sample rest for 5 minutes. Using a pipette, carefully remove a portion of the lower layer and add 8 drops of this extract to a clean vial, then evaporate the solvent via heating on a hot plate. Fill this vial halfway with Au NPs, add 4 drops of NaCl solution, and then cap and shake the vial gently to mix. Insert into the vial attachment on Misa for measurement.

Misa successfully confirms the presence of a fluorescent dye in a complex food matrix. The identification of Brilliant Blue in a flavored drink mix is unique in that it overcomes fluorescence while avoiding extensive sample cleanup, advanced spectral processing, and the complexity and expense of laboratory instrumentation. Contact Metrohm Raman for advice in adapting your custom application for Misa.