LC analysis of biogenic polyamines in table olives using on-line dansylation and peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence detection

Abstract

Biogenic polyamines were determined at femtomole concentrations in table olives using an on-line, liquid-chromatographic system involving dansylation and peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence-based detection. Samples simply obtained by treating table olives with trichloroacetic acid are derivatized on-line with dansyl chloride and 0.6 M borate buffer (pH 11), are separated on a C18 analytical column and determined using an integrated derivatization chemiluminescence detection unit based on the bis(2,4,6,-trichlorophenyl)oxalate-hydrogen peroxide system. Analytes can thus be determined in the concentration range 0.2–150 pmol (mass of analyte injected into chromatograph), with relative standard deviations 1.9–3.7% and limits of detection in the range 75–150 fmol. The proposed method surpasses other LC alternatives based on different detection techniques in terms of limits of detection.