Validation and evaluation of a high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of aluminium in wine

A new method is reported for the determination of aluminium in wine by HPLC, involving derivatisation with 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) in the presence of micelles resulting in the formation of a fluorescent derivative. The complex is separated on a C18 column using a mobile phase of oxine – SDS – 35% acetonitrile, in a pH 7 buffer. The method was validated in the range 0.125–2 mg/l in a synthetic wine. The method was applied to the determination of aluminium in white, rosé and red wines and results compared with those obtained by atomic absorption (GFAA). Aluminium concentrations found by HPLC in white wines were greater than those found in red wines. Further investigation using a polyphenol-enriched white wine revealed a statistically significant inverse relationship between wine polyphenol content and the aluminium concentration determined by HPLC. The method may therefore be envisaged for the determination of unbound aluminium in wine.