HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF BIOGENIC-AMINES IN FISH IMPLICATED IN FOOD POISONING

A rapid, sensitive and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatogr aphic procedure for the determination of nine biogenic amines in fish by improved benzoylation with benzoyl chloride was developed. The benz oylation of amines with benzoyl chloride at 30 degrees C for 40 min wa s the optimal condition to eliminate the influence of interfering peak s during analysis. The calibration curve for each amine was linear wit hin the range of 0.02-4 mu g. The amine recovery from fish meat was be tter by extraction with 6% trichloroacetic acid than with 1 M HCIO4. T he application of this method to detect amines in a fried marlin fille t implicated in a food poisoning incident indicated that a high level (84.1 mg/100 g) of histamine was present in the sample.