# Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsaicin (5041)

​CAPSAICIN and DIHYDROCAPSAICIN (1) C18H27NO3 MW: (2) C18H29NO3
305.40 307.48
METHOD: 5041, Issue 1
CAS: 404-86-4 19408-84-5
EVALUATION: PARTIAL
OSHA : no PELs NIOSH: no RELs ACGIH: no TLVs
5041
PROPERTIES:
RTECS: RA8530000 RA5998000
Issue 1: 15 May 1996 (1) white solid; MP 65 C; BP 210-220 C @ 0.01 mm Hg; VP not significant @ 25 C (2) white solid; VP not significant @ 25 C
NAMES & SYNONYMS: (1) capsaicin: trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide (2) dihydrocapsaicin: 8-methyl-N-vanillylnonanamide
SAMPLING SAMPLER:
FILTER (13-mm glass fiber)
MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUE:
HPLC, FLUORESCENCE DETECTOR
ANALYTES:
capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin 2 mL acetonitrile; ultrasonic bath, min
FLOW RATE:
1 to 3 L/min
EXTRACTION:
VOL-MIN:
(1) 5L @ 0.01 mg/m3 (2) 7 L @ 0.01 mg/m3 1000 L
INJECTION VOLUME:
SHIPMENT:
ship at 0 C
MOBILE PHASE:
48% acetonitrile/52% water v/v; mL/min
SAMPLE STABILITY:
at least 26 days @ 5 C [1,2]
COLUMN:
3.9-mm ID x 15 cm stainless steel packed with 10-µm µ-Bondapak C18
BLANKS:
2 to 10 field blanks per set DETECTOR:
fluorescence: excitation 281 nm; emission 312 nm
CALIBRATION:
standard solutions of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in acetonitrile
RANGE:
(1) 0.050 to 100 µg/sample (2) 0.067 to 100 µg/sample
ESTIMATED LOD:
(1) 0.015 µg/sample (2) 0.02 µg/sample
PRECISION ( r):
(1) 0.042 @ 0.13 to 17 µg/sample (2) 0.065 @ 0.11 to 3 µg/sample
-MAX:
ACCURACY RANGE STUDIED:
not studied
BIAS:
not determined
OVERALL PRECISION ( ACCURACY:
rT
10
25 µL 1
not determined not determined
APPLICABILITY: This method has been used to analyze samples collected at a pickle and pepper processing plant [1]. Analyte concentrations in sample solutions are not expected to exceed 0.2 µg/mL when samples are collected in this type of environment. INTERFERENCES: Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin exhibit baseline separation at concentrations of 0.2 µg/mL and less. At higher concentrations, baseline separation can be achieved by increasing the water in the mobile phase to about 55%. Nordihydrocapsaicin causes little interference during measurement of capsaicin because its abundance is relatively small in Capsicum fruit [3].
OTHER METHODS: HPLC methods for one or both analytes in solution have been published [3-8]. None have been published for air analysis.
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition, 5/15/96 ​CAPSAICIN and DIHYDROCAPSAICIN: METHOD 5041, Issue 1, dated 15 May 1996 - Page 2 of 4 REAGENTS:
EQUIPMENT:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
1.
Capsaicin, 98% pure.* Dihydrocapsaicin, 90% pure.* Water, distilled. Acetonitrile, chromatographic quality.* Capsaicin calibration and recovery stock solution, 0.8 mg/mL: Dissolve 20 mg of capsaicin in acetonitrile to make 25 mL solution. Store at 5 C. Prepare fresh bimonthly. 6. Dihydrocapsaicin calibration and recovery stock solution, 0.8 mg/mL: Dissolve 20 mg dihydrocapsaicin in acetonitrile to make 25 mL solution. Store at 5 C. Prepare fresh bimonthly.
Sampler: 13-mm glass fiber filter in 2-piece filter holder (Swinnex, Millipore Corp., or equivalent). 2. Personal sampling pump, 1 to 3 L/min, with flexible connecting tubing. 3. HPLC, fluorescence detector, ex 281nm, em 312 nm; recorder, integrator, and column (page 5041-1). 4. Vials, 4-mL, with PTFE-lined caps. 5. Graduated cylinder, 1-L, readable to 10 mL. 6. Volumetric flasks, 25- and 10-mL. 7. Syringes: 10-mL; 500-µL, readable to 10 µL; 100-µL, readable to 1 µL; 10 µL, readable to 0.1 µL. 8. Ultrasonic water bath. 9. Film, plastic, flexible, water resistant. 10. Syringe filters, 3-mm PTFE membrane, 0.45-µm pore size, in polypropylene housing. 11. Tweezers. 12. Dust mask.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin are toxic, are classified as mutagens, and can destroy certain sensory nerve cells [9,10]. Inhalation of aerosols of these compounds will result in prolonged coughing or sneezing. Exposure by inhalation can take place during weighing operations; thus, a dust mask is recommended. Skin contact will cause a burning sensation. Ingestion can cause intolerable burning and gastrointestinal disorders. Acetonitrile is toxic and is a fire hazard (flash point = 12.8 C).
SAMPLING: 1. Calibrate each personal sampling pump with a representative sampler in line. 2. Attach the sampler to the personal sampling pump with flexible tubing. 3. Sample at an accurately known flow rate between 1 and 3 L/min for a total sample size of 7 to 1000 L. NOTE: Limit the maximum loading of particulate matter on the filter to approximately 0.5 mg. 4. Seal ends of sampler with plastic film. Ship to laboratory in insulated container with bagged refrigerant. SAMPLE PREPARATION: 5. 6. 7. 8.
Transfer the 13-mm glass fiber filter to a 4-mL vial. Add 2 mL of acetonitrile to the vial and cap securely. Place the sample vial into an ultrasonic bath and agitate for 10 min. Filter the sample solution through a PTFE membrane filter.
CALIBRATION AND QUALITY CONTROL: 9. Calibrate daily with at least six working standards over the range of interest: 0.008 to 10 µg/mL for capsaicin; 0.01 to 10 µg/mL for dihydrocapsaicin. a. Prepare working standards from calibration stock solution in acetonitrile. NOTE: Working standards may be stored in tightly sealed vials at 5 C for at least 9 weeks. b. Analyze together with samples and blanks (steps 12 and 13). c. Prepare calibration graphs for capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin (peak area or height vs. µg of analyte). 10. Determine recoveries (R) at least once for each lot of glass fiber filters in the calibration range (step 9). NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition, 5/15/96 ​Prepare three filters at each of five concentration levels plus three media blanks.
       NOTE: Use separate filters for each analyte unless chromatographic conditions have been modified to permit baseline separation at concentrations >0.2 µg/mL (see APPLICABILITY and INTERFERENCES, Page 5041-1).
    a. Place 13-mm glass fiber filters into 4-mL vials.
    b. With a microliter syringe, fortify each filter with recovery solution.
    c. Allow the uncapped vials to stand overnight at room temperature.
    d. Prepare and analyze with working standards (steps 5 through 8, and steps 12 and 13).
    e. Prepare graph of R vs. µg of analyte recovered.
11. Analyze three quality control blind spikes and three analyst spikes for each analyte to ensure that the respective calibration graphs are in control.
MEASUREMENT:
12. Set high performance liquid chromatograph according to manufacturer’s recommendations and to conditions given on page 5041-1. Inject 25-µL sample aliquot manually or with autosampler.
       NOTE: If peak area is above the range of the working standards, dilute with acetonitrile, reanalyze, and apply appropriate dilution factor in calculations.
13. Measure peak area or height for each analyte.
CALCULATIONS:
14. Determine the mass, µg (corrected for R), of each analyte found on the filter (W) and the average media blank (B).
15. Calculate the concentration, C, of each analyte in the air volume sampled (L):
C = W - B/V, mg/m$^3$
EVALUATION OF METHOD:
Average recoveries of capsaicin after fortification of 13-mm glass fiber filters with 0.13-, 0.28-, 0.58-, 1.1-, 2.9-, and 17-µg quantities of the compound were 1.02, 0.95, 0.98, 0.99, 1.04, and 1.00, respectively; precision (Š) was 0.042 (35 samples, pooled). After 28 days storage at 5 °C, the average recovery of 0.99-µg quantities of capsaicin from glass fiber filters was 0.96; Sr was 0.023 (6 samples). In addition, the average recovery of 0.99µg quantities of capsaicin from glass fiber filters after 28 days storage at room temperature was 0.92; S$_r$ was 0.052 (6 samples). These data for stored samples suggest that recovery and precision of measurement are improved when samples are stored at the lower temperature. Empty glass vials were fortified with 0.90-µg quantities of capsaicin and stored uncapped for three days at room temperature. The average recovery from the vials was 0.98; thus, the vapor pressure of capsaicin at room temperature is insignificant.
A standard solution of capsaicin in acetonitrile at a concentration of 0.5 µg/mL was found to be stable during 9 weeks storage at 5 °C. The container was sealed tightly to prevent evaporation of solvent during refrigeration.
Average recoveries of dihydrocapsaicin after fortification of 13-mm glass fiber filters with 0.11-, 0.28-, 1.1-, and 3.0-µg quantities of the compound were 0.94, 1.03, 0.99, and 0.93, respectively; precision (Š$_r$) was 0.065 (23 samples, pooled). After 26 days storage at 5 °C, the average recovery from glass fiber filters fortified with 0.88 µg of dihydrocapsaicin was 0.88; S$_r$ was 0.047 (6 samples).
​CAPSAICIN and DIHYDROCAPSAICIN: METHOD 5041, Issue 1, dated 15 May 1996 - Page 4 of 4 REFERENCES: [1]
[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
[11]
Tucker SP [in preparation]. Determination of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in air in a pickle and pepper processing plant. Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering (DPSE). Tucker SP [1995]. Backup data report for method 5041, Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsaicin. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DPSE, Unpublished report. Weaver KM, Luker RG, Neale ME [1984]. J Chromatogr 301: 288-291. Sticher O, Soldati F, Joshi RK [1978]. J Chromatogr 166:221-231. Weaver KM, Awde DB [1986]. J Chromatogr 367: 438-442. Kawada T, Watanabe T, Katsura K, Takami H, Iwai K [1985]. J Chromatogr 329: 99-105. Saria A, Lembeck F, Skofitsch G [1981]. J Chromatogr 208: 41-46. Krajewska AM, Powers JJ [1986]. J Chromatogr 367: 267-270. Monsereenusorn Y, Kongsamut S, Pezalla PD [1982]. CRC Crit Rev Toxicol 10: 321-339. NIOSH [1994]. Registry of toxic effects of chemical substances (RTECS) data base: capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin. Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Education and Information Division, Information Resources Branch. Data base accessed August, 1994. Tucker SP [1994]. Analytical report for Sequence #8015, DPSE/MRSB. Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Unpublished report.
METHOD WRITTEN BY: Samuel P. Tucker, Ph.D., NIOSH/DPSE
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition, 5/15/96