Determination of biogenic amines in wine after precolumn derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate

AQC (6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate) was used as an alternative to the most common derivatization reagent, OPA (o-phthaldialdehyde), to determine sixteen biogenic amines in wines. OPA and AQC were compared in terms of the range of linearity, the limit of detection and the sensitivity (calibration line slopes) resulting from the application of each of the derivatization reagents. Sample handling is minimal because derivatization is fully automated by means of an injection programme. After derivatization, the derivatives were analysed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with gradient elution and fluorimetric detection. All the amines studied eluted in less than 25 min under the optimum conditions established. Different variables that affect derivatization and separation were optimized. Good linearity of the responses was obtained between 0.05 and 10.00 mg l(-1) depending on the amine derivative. The detection limits ranged between 5 and 50 mu g l(-1) for standard solutions and between 100 and 500 mu g l(-1) for wines. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the above amines in several types of wines from the Tarragona region.