Determination of biogenic amines by 3-(2-furoyl)quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde and capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection was applied to the determination of biogenic amines including putrescine, histamine, cadaverine, tyramine, tryptamine, 2-phenylethylamine, spermine, and spermidine. A fluorogenic derivatization reagent, 3-(2-furoyl)quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde, was successfully used to fluorescently label these biogenic amines. Different variables that affect derivatization (derivatization reagent concentration, reaction time and temperature) and separation (buffer concentration, addition of organic modifiers and sodium deoxycholate concentration) were studied. The linearities within concentration ranges of up to two orders of magnitudes were achieved for those species with correlation coefficients from 0.9967 to 0.9992. The detection limits (signal to noise=3) of biogenic amines can reach 5×10−10 mol l−1, which are equivalent to or better than the detection limits obtained by other analytical methods of biogenic amines. As a preliminary application, this method has been successfully employed to determine biogenic amines in the extract of tobacco leaf.