Determination of nitrofuran metabolites in marine products by high performance liquid chromatography–fluorescence detection with microwave-assisted derivatization

A sensitive method was developed for the simultaneous detection of four nitrofuran (NF) metabolites (3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ), semicarbazide (SEM), 3-amino-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidinone (AMOZ) and 1-aminohydantoin (AH)) in marine products. Samples were derivatized using 7-(diethylamino)-2-oxochromene-3-carbaldehyde (DAOC) under the assistance of a microwave within 20 min, followed by analysis by high performance liquid chromatography–fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). These NF metabolite derivatives were completely separated on a reversed-phase Eclipse XDB-C18 column within 10 min at specific excitation and emission wavelengths (λex = 450 and λem = 510 nm). Excellent linearity (R > 0.998) of all NF metabolite compounds was achieved with the limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantitation (LOQs) in the range of 0.22–0.29 μg kg−1 and 0.69–0.95 μg kg−1, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries ranging from 91.39–104.93% were obtained for all the NF metabolites. This method was successfully applied for the identification and quantitation of the NF metabolites in marine products. Furthermore, the proposed method should have powerful potential in the analysis of AOZ, AH, AMOZ and SEM in foodstuffs.