Comparison of two clean-up principles for determination of trichothecenes in grain extract

Abstract Two clean-up principles for the multi-determination of seven trichothecene toxins, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, fusarenon-X, T-2 tetraol, HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin in wheat extract are described. For clean-up of acetonitrile–water (84:16, v/v) extract either gel permeation chromatography (Bio-Beads S-X3 gel) or solid-phase extraction (combination of Florisil and C 18 -silica gel SPE cartridges or a Romer Labs. MycoSep 225 column) were used. The MycoSep 225 column was chosen as the best alternative for clean-up of grain samples. Recovery of this procedure was tested on certified material. Derivatisation of analytes prior to the final determinative step was carried out by trifluoroacetic acid anhydride. Trifluoroacyl derivatives of the trichothecenes were separated by high-resolution capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.