Supercritical fluid extraction for the detection of 2-dodecylcyclobutanone in low dose irradiated plant foods

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction [152 bar (15 200 kPa), 80 °C, 4 ml min−1, 60 min], performed on lipids (2 g) previously extracted from irradiated plant foods, allowed a selective extraction of 2-dodecylcyclobutanone and its further detection by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in 50 Gy irradiated cowpeas and 100 Gy irradiated rice. However, because of the higher quantities of lipid impurities in these test samples compared to those present in meat samples, a longer and slightly more polar capillary column than the one proposed in the official standard EN 1785 method should be used to obtain a satisfactory resolution.