Comparison of melamine determination as reference value in food simulant by gravimetric method and high performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the approaches used for assigning reference values for proficiency testing scheme in food simulant (acetic acid, 3% (w/v)) using gravimetric technique and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as according to DD CEN/TS 1313027: 2005. The PT samples used in this study were required to investigate for homogeneity and stability. These samples were examined and met the standard requirements (ISO 13528: 2005). The determinations of melamine content were performed by using HPLC and gravimetric method. From the experiment results, the amounts of melamine in food simulant were 5.04 and 5.00 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, the uncertainties of measurement were also estimated and found that the expanded uncertainties at 95% confidence interval were 0.30 and 0.06 mg/kg, respectively. The comparison between the reference values of HPLC and gravimetric method was performed by using E_n value. The E_n value showed non-significant difference for both determination methods of melamine values.