LC Determination of Trace Biogenic Amines in Foods Samples with Fluorescence Detection and MS Identification

A pre-column derivatization method for the simple, sensitive determination of biogenic amines using 10-ethyl-acridine-3-sulfonyl chloride (EASC) as labeling reagent with fluorescence detection and mass spectrometry (MS) identification has been developed. After pre-column derivatization, the labeled biogenic amines were separated on a Hypersil BDS-C18 column by gradient elution. The derivatives showed an intense protonated molecular ion corresponding m/z [M + H]⁺ in positive-ion mode. The collision-induced dissociation of protonated molecular ion formed specific fragment ions at m/z 196.5, m/z 222.7, m/z 224.4 and m/z 272.5, m/z 286.2. Satisfactory linear responses were observed at the concentration range of 0.02-10 μmol L⁻¹ with coefficients of >0.9993. Detection limits obtained by the analysis of a derivatized standard containing 0.2 pmol of each biogenic amine, were from 20.22 to 109.2 fmol (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The relative standard deviations of retention times and peak areas for each biogenic amine were