Determination of urethane in wines by gas-liquid chromatography and its confirmation by mass spectrometry.

A gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC)-mass spectral (MS) method for the determination and confirmation of urethane in wines has been developed. Analyses of domestic and imported wines indicated urethane to be present at levels ranging from 1 to 20 microng/L. Recoveries of urethane from wines fortified at 10 ppb (microng/L) ranged from 50 to 100% with an average value of 71%. GLC-MS was used to confirm the identity of urethane in wine extracts in which GLC indicated the presence of urethane.