Effects of injection solvent and mobile phase on efficiency in reverse-phase liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxin M1.

Abstract

The effects of injection solvent and mobile phase composition on the reverse-phase liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxin M1 (M1) were examined. M1 was converted to the more highly fluorescent derivative aflatoxin M2a (M2a). Using a C-18 column and a mobile phase of H2O-MeCN-MeOH (60 + 20 + 20) (MP-A), M2a was dissolved in various ratios of MeCN-H2O prior to injection. Chromatographic efficiency for the M2a peak varied from ca 2000 theoretical plates when injected in 30% aqueous MeCN to ca 9000 plates when injected in water alone. However, using the same C-18 column but with a mobile phase of H2O-IPA-MeCN (80 + 12 + 8) (MP-B), the M2a peak exhibited 25,000 plates when injected in 30% aqueous MeCN and 10,000 plates when injected in water alone.