[Determination of Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, and Sucralose in Chewing Gum by Dialysis Extraction]

The three sweeteners, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose, in chewing gum were determined by using dialysis and direct extraction methods. The results revealed that the previously reported dialysis method tended to show poor extraction of aspartame in comparison with the direct-extraction method. The direct extraction also caused operational problems, such as the gum base adhering to the instruments. Therefore, we attempted to improve the dialysis method by changing the dialysate, to which the three sweeteners were extracted while the sample stayed inside the dialysis tube. By changing the dialysate to 60% methanol and dialyzing for 24 hr at room temperature or 2 hr with shaking while heating at 50℃, all three sweeteners were extracted as good as those with the direct-extraction method.