DETERMINATION OF ACROLEIN IN URINE BY LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY AND FLUORESCENCE DETECTION OF ITS QUINOLINE DERIVATIVE

We describe an assay for acrolein in urine, employing derivatization w ith m-aminophenol in the presence of ferrous sulfate solution in sulfu ric acid. The derivative (7-OH quinoline; DER) and the internal standa rd (quinine-bisulfate; IS) were separated on a 10-mum particle, 8 mm x 10-cm C18 cartridge in conjunction with a radial compression system u sing a mixture of 0.05 M dibasic ammonium phosphate solution (pH 2.5): acetonitrile:methanol (92:6:2) at a flow rate of 3 mL/min as a mobile phase. The effluent was monitored fluorometrically at excitation and e mission wavelengths of 360 and 495 nm, respectively. The retention tim es of DER and IS under these conditions were 4.3 and 26 min, respectiv ely, and no interference in the assay from any endogenous substance or other concomitantly used drug was observed. The assay was highly line ar (r > 0.994) in the range 1-20 mug/mL of acrolein in urine (CV at di fferent concentrations, less-than-or-equal-to 7.9%). This method can s erve to monitor acrolein pharmacokinetics in patients.