DETERMINATION OF AFLATOXINS IN FOOD BY USE OF AN AUTOMATIC WORK STATION

An automated HPLC method with postcolumn derivatization is described for the determination of aflatoxins B-1, B-2, G(1) and G(2) after an immunoaffinity column clean-up. It can be used for the determination of aflatoxins in a variety of foodstuffs such as nuts, nut-like products (pistachios, almonds, etc.) and dried fruit. The aflatoxins are extracted with methanol-water, followed by a filtration step. Dilution of the extract, mixing, immunoaffinity column clean-up, elution of the aflatoxins and optional on-line HPLC are performed by an automatic work station (Zymark BenchMate). The subsequent HPLC analysis includes a postcolumn derivatization step with iodine solution and fluorimetric detection. The method compared well with manual techniques and another automated method.