title: A rapid, sensitive and economic method for the detection, quantification and confirmation of aflatoxins.
abstract: A rapid, sensitive and economic method for the detection, quantification and confirmation of aflatoxins is described. Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, are extracted by methanol/water (85 + 15) and partitioned into methylene dichloride. The methylene dichloride solution is cleaned up on a polypropylene column, filled with 0.5 g silica gel 60. The aflatoxins are eluted with chloroform-acetone (90:10) and are detected using bidirectional thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with aluminium silica gel foil. The mean recovery of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in corn samples was 73, 78, 80, and 64%, respectively; the limit of detection was 0.5 micrograms/kg. The results can also be confirmed by derivative formation using trifluoroacetic acid on the TLC plate. The method has been applied to a wide range of foods with good results.
authors.affiliation: Chemisches Untersuchungsamt Trier, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Majerus
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zakaria
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D010367:Arachis; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003369:Cottonseed Oil; D005516:Food Microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D003369:Cottonseed Oil