Title: DIFFERENCE: Optimisation and validation of screening methods for the analysis of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBS in food and feed and the production of certified reference materials

Auteur(s): Van Leeuwen SPJ ; Van Loco J ; De Boer J ;  ; 

Year: 2003

Journal: Organohalogen Compounds

Subject(s): analysis ; dioxin ; dioxins ; feed ; food ; PCB ; PCBs ; validation ; CALUX ; extraction ; clean-up ; furans ; milk ;  ; 

Summary: At 1 February 2002 a European research project called DIFFERENCE (Dioxins in Food and Feed Reference Methods and New Certified Reference Materials) has started. It will continue for 3 years and aims at: the development, optimization and validation of alternative methods for dioxin analysis, including bio-analytical screening techniques (Ah-PCR and CALUX), GC-LRMS/MS and comprehensive multi-dimensional GC, in order to reduce the costs of routine dioxin analysis; the optimization and validation of new extraction and clean-up procedures including Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE), Microwave assisted Extraction (MAE) and Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE); the development of validation protocols and an instruction video; the feasibility testing of the production and certification of five high quality certified reference materials (CRMs) for dioxins, furans, indicator PCBs and dioxin-like PCBs in food and animal feed being i) fish tissue, ii) sterilised milk, iii) pork, iv) fish oil or fish meal, v) compound feed.