RESUMO
In this study an automatic method for sample treatment and spectrophotometric determination of hydroxyproline in commercial sausages was developed. A flow-batch system that includes the steps of sample hydrolysis and determination of the analyte was designed. The method presents a linear range between 0.60 and 3.60 µg mL(-1) of hydroxyproline. A relative standard deviation of 1.68% was obtained from hydroxyproline standard solution (n=6, 1.20 µg mL(-1)) and the detection limit was 0.12 µg mL(-1). The sample throughput was 1 sample h(-1) while the reference method (AOAC) was carried out in about 17 h. This method employs 16 h of hydrolysis while in the proposed method the hydrolysis time was 15 min. For this purpose a pressure hydrolysis chamber with a low cost halogen lamp was used. The flow-batch system is simple and allows the use of both chambers (hydrolysis and detection) simultaneously. The obtained results with the flow-batch method are in good agreement with that obtained with the reference method. Moreover, it is good alternative to the quality control of meat products.
