Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and sulphites are often used as preservatives and antioxidants in the food industry due to their antimicrobial properties. However, since SO2 also has a toxic effect in addition to its classic antimicrobial properties, there is a labelling obligation in the EU from a concentration of 10 mg/kg.
For food manufacturers this means a balancing act, because on the one hand compliance with the prescribed limits is necessary, but at the same time the content must be sufficient for SO2 to achieve its full effect. An analysis that is as accurate as possible and at the same time efficient is therefore of great importance here, both for consumers and for manufacturers.
In analytics, the optimised Monier-Williams method (oMW), both according to the Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC) 990.283 and DIN EN 1988-14 and according to §64 of the German Food and Feed Code (LFGB5), is established as the reference method for checking the SO2 concentration in food.
The digestion procedure with the TURBOTHERM TT SO2 offers an alternative analytical method to the optimised Monier-Williams method with a reliable recovery rate for all sample matrices.
If samples without additional volatile subtances are involved, then VAPODEST 550 can also be used for the determination of SO2. The recovery rate is reliable and the handling in everyday laboratory work is clearly more efficient and safer for the user than the reference method.