BBCEAS-HLPC measurements for synthetic antioxidants (TBHQ, BHA, and BHT) in deep-UV region below 300 nm

This study investigates the integration of Broadband Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (BBCEAS) with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to detect synthetic antioxidants; BHA, BHT, and TBHQ in the deep-UV region below 300 nm. The research addresses the need for more sensitive and cost-effective detection methods in HPLC systems, particularly for low analyte concentrations, by exploring BBCEAS as a superior alternative to conventional detectors that often fall short in sensitivity. The sensitivity of the HPLC-BBCEAS system is assessed by calculating the minimum detectable change in the absorption coefficient (αmin) and comparing with those obtained using conventional HPLC and single-wavelength HPLC-CRDS methods. The findings demonstrate that the HPLC-BBCEAS system achieves αmin values of 1.8 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm ⁻¹ for BHA, 2.8 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm ⁻¹ for BHT, and 1.9 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm ⁻¹ for TBHQ at 280 nm, with Limits of Detection (LOD) and Quantification (LOQ) up to 30 times lower than conventional HPLC systems.