Analyzers Detect Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Melamine in Food and the Environment

A preconfigured system has been introduced for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), organic pollutants widely distributed in the environment that can be carcinogenic at certain levels.

The PAH analyzer provides laboratories conducting high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses for environmental and food testing with a complete system to expedite ramp up and increase uptime for challenging PAH sample analyses that require specific regulated methods. The PAH analyzer will support contract laboratories in the environmental and food safety sectors, as well as government and academic laboratories.

PAH analysis in soil, water, and food is one of the most important assays to evaluate the degree of contamination and quality of a product. The new analyzer, a product of PerkinElmer Analytical Sciences (Waltham, MA, USA), is a turnkey system guides the user through each step of the analysis and includes an application guidebook based on PerkinElmer's expertise and applications know-how to help quickly ramp up and increase throughput.

"The PAH analyzer is the first in a series of application-focused turnkey solutions designed to meet the scientific needs of laboratories conducting HPLC analyses,” said Eric Ziegler, vice president of the chromatography business at PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences.

PerkinElmer has also announced a complete analytic system for the determination of melamine adulteration in protein-based foods. The melamine analyzer is based on the innovative Clarus 600 T gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS),

"PerkinElmer is putting significant effort behind developing solutions focused on the analysis, determination, and monitoring of product safety and agricultural, food production, and processing environments to test various aspects of safety and quality,” said Dr. Richard Begley, president, PerkinElmer Analytical Sciences. PerkinElmer's melamine analyzer is the first in an anticipated new series of complete application systems designed to help laboratories analyze food safety and quality.

This analyzer is designed to provide laboratories a complete application solution including the technology, applications support, software, and expertise that will enable them to quickly and easily begin analyzing for melamine, thereby reducing the future risk of melamine-contaminated product entering the market,” Dr. Begley added.

Melamine is a nitrogen-rich industrial chemical that became well-known in North America recently after its presence in wheat gluten was linked with renal failure in dogs and cats. The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA; Rockville, MD, USA) quickly issued a standard test method for the analysis of melamine in protein materials using GC/MS. It is considered to be a toxic substance that may be carcinogenic and cause birth defects.


Related Links:
PerkinElmer Analytical Sciences
U.S. Food and Drug Association