Comparison of four thin-layer chromatographic methods for the determination of aflatoxins in raisins

A study was conducted to determine the accuracy and precision of 3 AOAC methods, secs 26.026-26.031 (CB), secs 26.032-26.036 (BF), and secs 26.052-26.060 (cottonseed), and the Romer quantitative method for the thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in raisins. The samples were spiked at a level of 10 micrograms total aflatoxins/kg. The TLC development systems were: ether-methanol-water (94 + 4.5 + 1.5) and chloroform-acetone (9 + 1). The interaction between the 4 methods and the 2 development systems was also studied. The average recoveries were 88, 80, 75, and 93% with coefficients of variation of 14.0, 10.4, 14.0, and 9.6% for aflatoxin B1 using the CB, BF, cottonseed, and Romer methods, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no difference in the results obtained using the 2 TLC development systems.     

Liquid chromatographic method for determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in corn and peanut products: collaborative study

A collaborative study of a liquid chromatographic method for the determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 was conducted in laboratories located in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Switzerland. Twenty-one artificially contaminated raw peanuts, peanut butter, and corn samples containing varying amounts of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 were distributed to participating laboratories. The test portion was extracted with methanol-0.1N HCl (4 + 1), filtered, defatted with hexane, and then partitioned with methylene chloride. The concentrated extract was passed through a silica gel column. Aflatoxins B1 and G1 were derivatized with trifluoroacetic acid, and the individual aflatoxins were determined by reverse-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Statistical analysis of the data was performed to determine or confirm outliers, and to compute repeatability and reproducibility of the method. For corn, relative standard deviations for repeatability (RSDr) for aflatoxin B1 ranged from 27.2 to 8.3% for contamination levels from 5 through 50 ng/g. For raw peanuts and peanut butter, RSDr values for aflatoxin B1 were 35.0 to 41.2% and 11.2 to 19.1%, respectively, for contamination levels from 5 through 25 ng/g. RSDr values for aflatoxins B2, G1, and G2 were similar. Relative standard deviations for reproducibility (RSDr) for aflatoxin B1 ranged from 15.8 to 38.4%, 24.4 to 33.4%, and 43.9 to 54.0% for corn, peanut butter, and raw peanuts, respectively. The method has been adopted official first action for the determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in peanut butter and corn at concentrations greater than or equal to 13 ng total aflatoxins/g.     

A quantitative method for determination of aflatoxin B in roasted corn.

Roasting aflatoxin-contaminated corn will reduce toxin levels. A quantitative analysis for aflatoxin in roasted corn has been developed by modifying a cleanup technique for green coffee extracts approved as official first action by the AOAC. A chloroform extract is partially purified on a Florisil column, and thin layer chromatographic (TLC) plates are developed with methylene chloride-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol-formic acid (81+15+3+1). Recoveries average 101% and the sensitivity limit is 5 ppb aflatoxin B1. A 2-dimensional TLC procedure can also be used to separate the aflatoxins from background interferences.     

Determination of aflatoxins in vegetable oils

A simple method is proposed for determination of aflatoxins in vegetable oils. The method was successfully applied to both crude and degummed oils. The oil sample, dissolved in hexane, was applied to a silica column and washed with ether, toluene, and chloroform; aflatoxins were eluted from the column with chloroform-methanol (97 + 3). As quantitated by thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography, the oils analyzed contained aflatoxin B1 at levels of 5-200 micrograms/kg. Recoveries of aflatoxin B1 standards added to aflatoxin-free oils were between 89.5 and 93.5%, with coefficients of variation of 6.3-8.0%.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxins in feedstuffs containing citrus pulp

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed for the determination of aflatoxins in feedstuffs containing citrus pulp. The feed-stuff sample is extracted with chloroform, followed by Sep-Pak Florisil cartridge cleanup and Sep-Pak C18 cartridge cleanup. The final eluate (water-acetone, 85 + 15, v/v) is submitted to reverse-phase liquid chromatography with water-methanol-acetonitrile (130 + 70 + 40, v/v/v) as mobile phase and postcolumn derivatization with iodine. Citrus components are removed from the extract efficiently. The limit of detection for aflatoxin B1 is less than 1 microgram/kg. Other aflatoxins can also be detected and measured. Recoveries of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 for dairy rations spiked at 13, 5, 10, and 4 micrograms/kg were 87, 86, 81, and 82%, respectively. Corresponding coefficients of variation were 3.1, 3.6, 5.2, and 3.8%, respectively.     

High pressure liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxins in corn.

A high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method is proposed for determining aflatoxins in corn. The sample is extracted with methanol-10% NaCl (4 + 1), pigments are precipitated with zinc acetate, and the extract is cleaned up on a small (2 g) silica gel column. Aflatoxins in the purified extract are resolved by normal phase HPLC on a microparticulate (10 micrometer) silica gel column with water-saturated chloroform-cyclohexane, acetonitrile solvent, and detected by fluorescence on a silica gel-packed flowcell. The method was compared with chloroform-water extraction of the official CB method on 15 samples of contaminated corn. In 5 of the 6 samples containing aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, methanol-10% NaCl extracted more aflatoxin than did cloroform-water, as measured both by HPLC and by thin layer chromatography. In samples containing only B1 and B2, the 2 extraction solvents were virtually equivalent. Agreement was good between HPLC and TLC for each extraction solvent. Average recovery of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 added to yellow cornmeal at 3 levels was greater than 90%.     

Visual and semiquantitative spectrophotometric ELISA screening method for aflatoxin B1 in corn and peanut products: follow-up collaborative study

A joint AOAC/IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) interlaboratory study of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent screening assay (ELISA) for aflatoxins was conducted in laboratories in Canada, France, Japan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Tunisia, and the United States. Twelve raw and roasted peanut and corn portions containing various concentrations of natural aflatoxins and supplemented when appropriate with aflatoxin B1 were distributed to participating laboratories for testing. The assay is based on competition between an enzyme-conjugated aflatoxin B1 and (free) aflatoxins in the test sample for aflatoxin-specific antibodies coated onto interior surfaces of microtiter wells. After a wash step to remove all unbound aflatoxins, a substrate added to each well is catalyzed from a colorless to a blue solution by any bound enzyme-conjugated aflatoxin B1 present. The intensity of the color decreases as the amount of free aflatoxin B1 in the test portion increases. Final determination of aflatoxin concentrations can be made by either visual comparison with standard solutions or spectrophotometric comparisons (at 650 nm) to knowns. Overall correlation was good between ELISA and thin-layer chromatographic results for corn and roasted peanut products, with 93 and 98% correct responses for visual and instrumental determinations, respectively. For instrumental determinations of aflatoxin in corn and roasted peanuts in the less than or equal to 20 ng/g range, the relative standard deviations for repeatability (RSDr) were 14.9 and 41.4%, respectively, and the relative standard deviations for reproducibility (RSDR) were 45.7 and 43.5%, respectively. For instrumental determination of greater than 20 ng/g, the respective RSDr and RSDR values were 19.4 and 52.7% for corn and 23.3 and 23.3% for roasted peanuts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Rapid quantitation and confirmation of aflatoxins in corn and peanut butter, using a disposable silica gel column, thin layer chromatography, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid, and solvent-efficient method for determining aflatoxins in corn and peanut butter is described. Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 were extracted from 50 g sample with 200 mL methanol-water (85 + 15). A portion of the extract was diluted with 10% NaCl solution to a final concentration of 50% methanol, and then defatted with hexane. The aflatoxins were partitioned into chloroform. The chloroform solution was evaporated, and the residue was placed on a 0.5 g disposable silica gel column. The column was washed with 3 mL each of hexane, ethyl ether, and methylene chloride. Aflatoxins were eluted with 6 mL chloroform-acetone (9 + 1). The solvent was removed by evaporation on a steam bath, and the aflatoxins were determined using thin layer chromatography (TLC) with silica gel plates and a chloroform-acetone (9 + 1) developing solvent. Overall average recovery of aflatoxin B1 from corn was 82%, and the limit of determination was 2 ng/g. For mass spectrometric (MS) confirmation, aflatoxin B1 in the extract from 3 g sample (20 ng/g) was purified by TLC and applied by direct on-column injection at 40 degrees C into a 6 m fused silica capillary gas chromatographic column. The column was connected directly to the ion source. After injection, the temperature was rapidly raised to 250 degrees C, and the purified extract was analyzed by negative ion chemical ionization MS.     

Immunoaffinity column coupled with solution fluorometry or liquid chromatography postcolumn derivatization for determination of aflatoxins in corn, peanuts, and peanut butter: collaborative study

An AOAC/IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) collaborative study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an immunoaffinity column for the determination of aflatoxin. The test portion is extracted with methanol-water (7 + 3), filtered, diluted to less than 30% methanol with water, and applied to the affinity column. The column is washed with water and the concentrated aflatoxins are eluted with methanol. Total aflatoxins are determined by solution fluorometry with bromine (SFB), and individual toxins are determined by reverse-phase liquid chromatography with postcolumn derivatization with iodine (PCD). Corn naturally contaminated with aflatoxins, and peanuts, peanut butter, and corn containing added aflatoxins (B1:B2:G1:G2 = 7:1:3:1) were sent to 24 collaborators in the United States, France, Canada, and the Republic of South Africa. Twelve collaborators used the SFB method, 9 used the PCD method, and 3 used both SFB and PCD methods. Twenty collaborators completed the study (10 used the SFB method, 7 used the PCD method, and 3 used both SFB and PCD methods). Test portions were spiked at 10, 20, and 30 ng/g. For SFB analyses, recoveries of total aflatoxins were 123, 105, and 107%, respectively; the relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) ranged from 11.75 to 16.57%, and the relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR) ranged from 10.97 to 33.09%. For PCD analyses, recoveries were 81, 81, and 83%, respectively; the RSDr ranged from 5.20 to 17.22%, and the RSDR ranged from 4.68 to 50.77%. The RSDr for aflatoxins B1 and G1 for spiked test portions ranged from 5.45 to 23.55%, and the RSDR ranged from 4.21 to 57.28%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

International mycotoxin check sample program: Part I. Report on laboratory performance for determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in raw peanut meal, deoiled peanut meal, and yellow corn meal

Three aflatoxin-contaminated samples (raw peanut meal, deoiled peanut meal, and yellow corn meal) were analyzed by 121 laboratories in 31 countries. Sufficient data were obtained to permit a statistical comparison of the performance of laboratories using the BF, CB, and EEC methods and those using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantitation. No significant differences were found between means for laboratories using these 4 methods for the analysis of raw peanut meal or yellow corn meal. However, for deoiled peanut meal, means were significantly different for laboratories using the BF method compared with the CB or EEC methods for B1 and B2, and for laboratories using the CB method compared with HPLC methods for G2.     

Comparison of two immunochemical methods with thin-layer chromatographic methods for determination of aflatoxins

Three different methods were compared for the determination of total flatoxins in corn and peanuts naturally contaminated with aflatoxins and in corn, peanuts, cottonseed, peanut butter, and poultry feed spiked with aflatoxins B1, B2, and G1. The 3 methods were an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening test; a monoclonal antibody-affinity column-solid-phase separation method; and the AOAC official thin-layer chromatography (TLC) methods for all except poultry feed, for which Shannon's TLC method for mixed feed was used. The ELISA test is designed to provide only positive results for total aflatoxins at greater than or equal to 20 ng/g or negative results at less than 20 ng/g. The affinity column separation is coupled with either bromination solution fluorometry to estimate total aflatoxins or liquid chromatography (LC) to quantitate individual aflatoxins. Fluorodensitometry was used to determine aflatoxins in commodities analyzed by the TLC methods. The LC and TLC results were in good agreement for all the analyses. The results for the affinity column using bromination solution fluorometry were similar except those for cottonseed, which were about 60% higher. The ELISA screening method correctly identified naturally contaminated corn and peanut positive samples. No false positives were found for controls. The correct response for spiked corn, raw peanuts, peanut butter, and cottonseed at greater than or equal to 20 ng aflatoxins/g was about 90%. The correct response for spiked poultry feed at greater than or equal to 20 ng aflatoxins/g was about 50%.     

Comparative study of two methods for extraction of aflatoxin from peanut meal and peanut butter

The difference between the CB and Best Foods methods in extracting aflatoxins from peanut products has been studied. The CB method yields 60, 121, 35, and 22% higher results for aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2, respectively for 4 samples of peanut meal and 6 samples of peanut butter studied. Both reverse phase liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography were used to quantitate the extracted aflatoxins.     

Optimum methanol concentration and solvent/peanut ratio for extraction of aflatoxin from raw peanuts by modified AOAC method II

The amount of aflatoxin extracted from raw peanuts by using the water-slurry modification of AOAC Method II was determined for 49 different combinations of methanol concentrations and solvent/peanut ratio. Results indicate that the amount of aflatoxins B1 and B2 extracted from raw peanuts is a function of both methanol concentration and solvent/peanut ratio, and a cubic equation was developed, using regression techniques, to describe the combined effects. From the functional relationship, the predicted methanol concentration and solvent/peanut ratio that extracts the most aflatoxin B1 was computed to be 60.0% and 10.8 mL solvent/g peanuts, respectively. This combination extracted 12.1% more aflatoxin than did AOAC Method II.     

High pressure liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxins in peanut butter using a silica gel-packed flowcell for fluorescence detection

A high pressure liquid chromatographic method has been developed for determining aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in peanut butter. The method is based on extraction with acidified aqueous methanol, partition of the aflatoxin into methylene chloride, and purification of the extract on a 2 g silica gel column. The extracted aflatoxins are resolved on a microparticulate (10 micrometer) porous silica gel column in ca 10 min with a water-washed chloroform-cyclohexane-acetonitrile solvent that contains 2% isopropanol. The fluorescence detection system determines aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 at low levels, i.e., 0.25 ppb B1, 0.5 ppb G1, and 0.2 ppb B2 and G2. Multiple assays of 5 samples of naturally contaminated peanut butters containing total aflatoxins (B1 + B2 + G1 + G2) at levels of 1, 2, 3, 9, and 17 ppb gave intralaboratory coefficients of variation of 7, 4, 4, 11, and 3%, respectively. Samples spiked at levels of 5, 9, and 17 ppb total aflatoxins showed recoveries of 79, 81, and 81%, respectively.     

An analytical survey of aflatoxins in tissues from swine grown in regions reporting 1988 aflatoxin-contaminated corn.

A joint project was undertaken by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Agriculture Research Service branches of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine the presence of aflatoxins in the U.S. meat supply during a drought year. In 1988, high incidences of aflatoxins occurred in corn grown in regions of the Midwest, Southeast, and South. Six states were identified as having serious aflatoxin contamination in their corn crop: Virginia, North and South Carolina, Texas, Iowa, and Illinois. Swine liver and pillars of diaphragm (muscle) tissues were sampled by federal FSIS Inspectors in plants located in these states. A worstcase sampling plan was conducted. Samples were taken in January 1989 from hogs fed corn soon after harvest and in April 1989 from hogs fed corn originally stored and then fed in the spring. A modification of the official AOAC method for the thin-layer chromatography (TLC) determination of aflatoxins in animal tissue was used to permit quantitation by LC with fluorescence detection. The official AOAC TLC confirmation of identity method was used to confirm all positive samples with B1 concentrations greater than 0.04 ppb and M1 concentrations greater than 0.1 ppb. Sixty samples in the January group and 100 samples in the April group were assayed. Concentrations of aflatoxins B1 and M1 in the first group of pig livers ranged from 0.04 to 0.06 ppb. The identity of aflatoxin B1 was confirmed in all positive samples. Aflatoxin M1 could not be confirmed in any of the positive liver samples because the method was insufficiently sensitive for this aflatoxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Collaborative study of a screening method for the detection of aflatoxins in mixed feeds, other agricultural products, and foods.

A screening method for aflatoxins was collaboratively tested on 11 different agricultural and food products: white and yellow corn, peanuts, peanut butter, pistachio nuts, peanut meal, cottonseed meal, chicken, pig, and turkey starter rations, and dairy cattle feed. The method involves a rapid extraction and cleanup procedure followed by the detection of total aflatoxins (B1 + B2 + G1 + G2) as a fluorescent band on the Florisil layer of a Velasco-type minicolumn. The results of 32 collaborators from 10 different countries are presented. Samples containing 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mug aflatoxins/kg were analyzed. Eighty-four per cent of the negative samples and 89% of the samples containing 10-25 mug total aflatoxins/kg were correctly identified. This method has been adopted as official first action for the detection of aflatoxins in corn, peanuts, peanut butter, peanut meal, cottonseed meal, mixed feeds, and pistachio nuts.     

Modification of the rapid screening method for aflatoxin in corn for quantitative use

A study was made to determine if the official AOAC method for screening of aflatoxin in corn could be modified for use as a quantitative method. Several different corn products were analyzed using the modified method, with an average savings of over 1 h/sample vs the CB method. Average recoveries for aflatoxin B1 were 94% for the low level spiked samples and 108% for the high level. Samples of corn and corn products containing naturally incurred aflatoxin were also analyzed with the modified method, and the results compared favorably with those obtained by the CB method.     

Screening method for the detection of aflatoxins in mixed feeds and other agricultural commodities with subsequent confirmation and quantitative measurement of aflatoxins in positive samples.

The method described will detect total aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) in mixed feeds, grains nuts, and fruit products in samples containing as little as 5-15 mug/kg. In addition, the presence of aflatoxins in the positive samples can be confirmed and the toxins can be quantitatively measured, using the same extract as that used for the screening method. In the screening method, aflatoxins are extracted with acetone-water (85+15), and interferences are removed by adding cupric carbonate and ferric chloride gel. The aflatoxins are extracted from the aqueous phase with chloroform and the chloroform extract is washed with a basic aqueous solution. A Velasco-type minicolumn is used to further purify the extract and capture the aflatoxins in a tight band. The screening method has been successfully applied to 24 different agricultural commodities. Quantitative thin layer chromatography was also performed with extracts of each of these commodities. An average recovery of 94% B1, 108% B2, 130% G1, and 103% G2 was obtained compared to the official final action AOAC method for cottonseed products, 26.048-26.056. Within-laboratory coefficients of variation of 10-15% were obtained for each of the aflatoxins and total aflatoxins in a sample of peanut meal naturally contaminated with 11 mug B1+3 mug B2+11 mug G1+5 mug G2/kg.     

Comparison of postcolumn derivatization-liquid chromatography with thin-layer chromatography for determination of aflatoxins in naturally contaminated corn

Quantitation of aflatoxins by liquid chromatography with postcolumn iodine derivatization (LC-PCD) and fluorescence detection was compared with quantitation by the AOAC CB method, 968.22. Thirty-seven naturally contaminated corn samples were ground and then divided. One portion was extracted, and the extract was cleaned up and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography according to the CB method. The second portion was extracted and cleaned up in a similar fashion, but quantitation was by the LC-PCD method. For aflatoxin B1 concentrations ranging from 0 to 150 ng/g, results obtained by the 2 methods were fitted to a linear equation with the LC-PCD results as the dependent variable. The correlation coefficient was 0.99, the intercept was near 0, and the slope was near 1. For aflatoxin B2, the correlation coefficient was 0.97, and the intercept was near 0. However, the slope of the equation relating LC-PCD concentration to TLC concentration was only 0.5. We believe that this lack of equivalence between the methods for determination of aflatoxin B2 is due to overestimation by the TLC method because the low levels present are near the TLC detection limit for B2.     

Development of a fluorescence polarization assay for the determination of aflatoxins in grains

Aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus flavus are commonly found in human and animal foods including grains, cereals, peanut products, sorghum, and soy seeds. Exposure to aflatoxins has been associated with carcinogenicity. This paper reports a simple, portable, and rapid fluorescence polarization (FP) assay for aflatoxin determination in grains. This immunoassay is field portable, homogeneous, and without any washing and cleaning steps. The assay is based upon the competition between free aflatoxin and an aflatoxin-fluorescein tracer for an aflatoxin-specific monoclonal antibody in solution. A series of naturally contaminated corn, sorghum, peanut butter, and peanut paste samples were analyzed by FP and compared with HPLC results. Similarly, spiked popcorn samples were analyzed by FP. FP results of naturally contaminated samples correlated well with HPLC (r (2) = 0.97). FP analysis of spiked popcorn samples (with a mixture of B(1)/B(2)/G(1)/G(2), 7/1/3/1, w/w) gave a good correlation with spiked values (r (2) = 0.99). However, FP consistently underestimated the aflatoxin contents. This was perhaps due to low cross-reactivity of the antibody used toward B(2), G(1), and G(2) aflatoxins. These results combined with the portability and simplicity of the assay suggest that the assay can be used for screening total aflatoxin in grains.