Sub-minute method for simultaneous determination of aspartame, cyclamate, acesulfame-K and saccharin in food and pharmaceutical samples by capillary zone electrophoresis

• A simple and fast CZE method was developed to determine four of the most common artificial sweeteners.
• PeakMaster® software was employed as a tool in the selection of the BGE components.
• CZE method was applied to determine sweeteners in food products and pharmaceutical samples.

This paper reports the development of a sub-minute separation method by capillary zone electrophoresis for the determination of aspartame, cyclamate, acesulfame-K and saccharin in food products and pharmaceutical samples. Separations were performed in a fused uncoated silica capillary with UV detection at 220 nm. Samples and standards were injected hydrodynamically using the short-end injection procedure. The electrophoretic system was operated under constant voltage of −30 kV. The background electrolyte was composed of 45 mmol L−1 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol and 15 mmol L−1 benzoic acid at pH 8.4. The separation time for all analytes was less than 1 min. Evaluation of analytical parameters of the method showed good linearity (r2 > 0.9972), limit of detection of 3.3–6.4 mg L−1, intermediate precision better than 9.75% (peak area of sample) and recovery in the range of 91–117%.