High-performance liquid chromatographic screening method for mycotoxins using new retention indexes and diode array detection

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) screening method for the determination of mycotoxins has been developed. The toxins were characterized by retention indexes and on-line UV spectra produced with a diode array detector (DAD). Retention indexes of mycotoxins exhibiting a wide range of polarities and chemical structures were determined during linear gradient elution with an acetonitrile/water solvent system. The retention index scale was based on the use of a new homologous series of 1-[4-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)phenyl]-1-alkanones (D-compounds) as internal standards. The mycotoxins studied were: five trichothecenes of group A: T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), neosolaniol (NEO), and an isomer of neosolaniol (NEO isomer); three trichothecenes of group B: nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), and fusarenon-X (FUS-X); four aflatoxins: B1, B2, G1, and G2; and five other mycotoxins: sterigmatocystin (STE), zearalenone (ZEA), ochratoxin A (OCH A), citrinin (CIT), and patulin (PAT).