Investigation of Toxic Molecules in some Artificial Sweeteners using Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

The field of this research was materials characterization using Raman spectroscopy technique. The aim of this research is to investigate the toxic molecules in some artificial sweeteners using Raman spectroscopy. Six samples of artificial sweeteners (Tropicana slim, Steviana and süssina) were used in this study as follows; one powder and one liquid sample of each of the three brands of sweeteners (Tropicana slim ,Steviana and süssina) was prepared HCl acid was used as a solvent for the samples to study the effect of the acidity, as well as to study the effect of temperature on the structure of the sweeteners. The samples were collected from commercial markets in Khartoum. The analysis of the Raman spectra were performed for the Raman peaks of the three powder samples (Tropicana slim ,Steviana and süssina ) at wavenumber values ; ( 263.0, 342.0, 415.0, 599.0, 642.0, 773.0, 1446, 876.0, 936.0, 1054.0, 1091.0, 1129.4, 1250.0, 1325.0,and 1369) cm-1 , these Raman peaks are attributed to the natural sweetener ( sorbitol ) (C6H14O6). The analysis of the Raman spectra were performed for Raman peaks of the powder sample (süssina) at wavenumber values; (622.4, 818.0 cm-1) these Raman peaks are attributed to the toxic artificial sweetener (Aspartame) (C14H18N2O3), and Raman peaks at (711.0, 1032, 1154.0, 1300.0 cm-1) these Raman peaks are attributed to the toxic artificial sweetener (saccharine) (C7H4NNaO3S). It was found that Tropicana Slim powder and Steviana powder contain natural sorbitol molecules (C6H14O6) with high concentration and do not contain any of the toxic artificial Aspartame (C14H18N2O3) and saccharin (C7H4NNaO3S) molecules. Whereas it was found that (süssina) powder contains molecules of toxic artificial sweetener Aspartame (C14H18N2O3) and Saccharine (C7H4NNaO3S) molecules with high concentration. From Raman spectral analysis of the dissolved samples (Tropicana slim and steviana ) was found that they contain natural molecules of sorbitol with low concentration but it disappeared in the dissolved sample (süssina). However, the result of Raman spectral analysis of dissolved sample (süssina) revealed that it contains magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) at the wavenumber value (1117.0) cm-1 which is nontoxic molecule with low concentration, while it disappeared in the other samples.The results obtained in this study were in good agreement with the literature.