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A study of the suitability of gas chromatography-electron capture detection for the analysis of deoxynivalenol in cereals

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Abstract

A gas chromatographic-electron capture detection (GC-ECD) method for the analysis of deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereals was investigated. The sample was extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile-water and purified with a MycoSep #225 column. The silylation was performed with Tri-Sil-TBT reagent, followed by dilution with hexane and a washing step with buffer. By using Tri-Sil-TBT reagent no double peaks were observed for DON in the gas chromatograms, in comparison with two other silylation reagents TMSI and Tri-Sil-Z. The use of trichothecolone (TRI) as an internal standard for DON was studied in order to indicate possible problems in the derivatisation reaction. TRI proved to be a relatively good internal standard for DON in cereal samples, as well as 1,1-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethylene (DDE), which was used as a GC standard for ensuring the function of GC-ECD. During the study, a matrix effect was clearly observed between the cereal matrix-assisted calibration curve and the calibration curve prepared without cereal matrix. The results of spiked and reference material samples, quantified with the calibration curve prepared without and with matrix, demonstrated that the matrix affects the results. However, after recovery correction the results were comparable. The validation results demonstrated that the GC-ECD method for DON analysis in cereals is sufficiently reliable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Veterinary and Food Research Institute (EELA), Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 45 (Hämeentie 57), FIN-00581, Helsinki, Finland

    Eskola M & Rizzo A

  2. TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute, Food and Food Supplement Analysis Department, P.O. Box 360 (Utrechtseweg 48), 3700, AJ Zeist, The Netherlands

    Boonzaaijer G,  Osenbruggen WA van & Tijmensen G

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  1. Eskola M
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  2. Boonzaaijer G
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Eskola, M., Boonzaaijer, G., van Osenbruggen, W. et al. A study of the suitability of gas chromatography-electron capture detection for the analysis of deoxynivalenol in cereals. Mycotox Res 16, 73–90 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02946107

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02946107

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