In the present work a sensitive and accurate method by ion chromatography and conductimetric detection has been developed for the determination of biogenic amines in food samples at microgram per kilogram levels. The optimized extraction procedure of trimethylamine, triethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, agmatine, spermidine, and spermine from real samples, as well as the separation conditions based on a multilinear gradient elution with methanesulfonic acid and the use of a weak ionic exchange column, have provided excellent results in terms of resolution and separation efficiency. Extended calibration curves (up to 200 mg/kg, r > 0.9995) were obtained for all the analyzed compounds. The method gave detection limits in the range 23-65 μg/kg and quantification limits in spiked blank real samples in the range 65-198 μg/kg. Recovery values ranged from 82 to 103 %, and for all amines, a good repeatability was obtained with precision levels in the range 0.03-0.32 % (n = 4). The feasibility and potential of the method were tested by the analysis of real samples, such as tinned tuna fish, anchovies, cheese, wine, olives, and salami.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.