Abstract: In this experiment, we established an analytical method for the determination of patulin in apple juice and apple beverage by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Samples were pretreated and purified by solid phase extraction (SPE). The target compound was separated on a C18 column with acetonitrile-water as the mobile phase, and detected by a diode array detector. The results showed that the limit of detection (LOD) of this method was 8 μg/kg and its limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 25 μg/kg. The determination coefficient was 0.999 6 in the patulin concentration range of 50.0–500.0 μg/L. The recovery rates of patulin at spiked levels of 25–100 μg/kg ranged from 90.2% to 102.8% and the precision coefficients of variation were 0.57%–1.44%. This method was accurate, cost-efficient and easy-operating. Hence, it can be suitable for product safety control in apple juice concentrate manufacturers.

Key words: apple juice and apple beverage, patulin, high performance liquid chromatography, solid phase extraction