Submitted to: Gordon Research Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: June 19, 1999
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: Capillary electrophoresis (CE), the separation of components from one another based upon migration in an electrical field, is an analytical technology readily adapted to mycotoxin analysis. The separation mechanism is orthogonal to many of the chromatographic methods and can result in the discrimination of mycotoxins from matrix components that might otherwise interfere in such assays. The separations can also be accomplished in aqueous buffer solutions, reducing the need for organic solvents. CE methods have been developed for many of the mycotoxins including the aflatoxins, citrinin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, moniliformin, ochratoxins, penicillic acid, roridin A, sterigmatocystin, and zearalenone. Of these, sensitive fluorescence-based methods have been described for the aflatoxins, ochratoxins, and fumonisins. The UV/Vis detectors lack the sensitivity of fluorescence-based detectors, but are much more commonly available. The diode array detectors also permit peaks to be scanned during elution, providing an additional element of confirmation. Several protocols for the analysis of mycotoxins with diode array detection are described. Along with the fluorescence-based assays, the diode array-based assays provide additional tools for mycotoxin analysis which augment the traditional chromatographic techniques.