Comparison of two clean-up principles for determination of trichothecenes in grain extract

Two clean-up principles for the multi-determination of seven trichothecene toxins, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, fusarenon-X, T-2 tet raol, HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin in wheat extract are described. For clean-up of acetonitrile-water (84:16, v/v) extract either gel permeation chromatog raphy (Bio-Beads S-X3 gel) or solid-phase extraction (combination of Floris il and C-18-silica gel SPE cartridges or a Romer Labs. MycoSep 225 column) were used. The MycoSep 225 column was chosen as the best alternative for cl ean-up of grain samples. Recovery of this procedure was tested on certified material. Derivatisation of analytes prior to the final determinative step was carried out by trifluoroacetic acid anhydride. Trifluoroacyl derivativ es of the trichothecenes were separated by high-resolution capillary gas ch romatography with electron-capture detection. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.