Determination of 2,4,6-triiodoresorcinol and other side reaction products and intermediates in the colour additive FD&C Red No. 3 (erythrosine) using high-performance liquid chromatography.

An HPLC method was developed for the quantitative determination of 2,4,6-triiodoresorcinol (I3R), 2-(2',4'-dihydroxy-3',5'-diiodobenzoyl)benzoic acid, resorcinol, phthalic acid, and sodium iodide in the colour additive FD&C Red No. 3 (erythrosine) (R3). Due to the fast decomposition of I3R in aqueous solutions, the dye portions analysed were dissolved in methanol and the determinations were performed in the freshly-made solutions.