[Studies on the analysis of copper chlorophyll and sodium copper chlorophyllin in imported foods]

The analysis of copper chlorophyll (CuCh) and sodium copper chlorophyllin (CuCh-Na) in imported foods was carried out. Standards of CuCh and CuCh-Na were examined by ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer. CuCh gave absorption maximum around 650 nm, while CuCh-Na gave around 630 nm. Imported sweets and liqueurs were homogenized and extracted with ethyl acetate. These extracts also gave absorption maxima absorbance around 650 nm or 630 nm. The results suggested that a distinction between CuCh and CuCh-Na in foods was possible by spectrophotometry. Visible spectrophotometric quantitation was also tried. However the estimated levels of CuCh or CuCh-Na in the samples by this method did not meet with those by atomic absorption spectrometry.