Liquid Chromatographic-Fluorometric Analysis of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins

Abstract

Alkaline oxidation of paralytic shellfish toxins with ten-butyl hydroperoxide yielded highly fluorescent derivatives. Even gonyautoxins I and IV and neosaxitoxin, which were nonfluorescing by previously proposed hydrogen peroxide oxidations, were successfully converted to fluorescent compounds. A continuous shellfish toxin analyzer was constructed by incorporating the reaction into a high pressure liquid chromatographic system. The limit of detection was within the range of 0.04 ~ 2.2 nmol for gonyautoxins I~V, neosaxitoxin and saxitoxin. © 1984, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.