Abstract: A simultaneous determination method for three sweeteners (sodium cyclamate, potassium acesulfame and sodium saccharin) and two preservatives (potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate) in food was established. Samples were directly diluted or extracted with water, followed by clean-up on Cleanert C18 column for removing organic impurities. The chromatographic separation of these additives was carried out on low hydrophobic IonPac AS17-C anion-exchange column using KOH solution as eluent by a two-step isocratic elution procedure. Detection was performed using a conductivity detector. Five kinds of additives could not be adsorbed by the clean-up column and high recovery rate was achieved when the pH of sample solution was adjusted to 9－10 prior to loading. This developed method is rapid, sensitive, accurate and reliable and therefore suitable for determining sweeteners and preservatives in foods.

Key words: sweeteners, preservative, ion chromatography, food quality analysis