Analysis of glutamate in beverages and foodstuffs by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A simple, sensitive, and robust method has been developed for the separation and quantification of glutamate in beverages and foodstuffs. Samples were derivatized with 5 x 10(-4) M fluorescein isothiocyanate. Glutamate was separated by capillary electrophoresis and detected by laser-induced fluorescence wi ih 488-nm radiation from an argon ion laser Response was linearly dependent on concentration between 10(-7) and 10-4 M. The limit of mass detection was 16 amor and the limit of concentration detection was 5.4 x 10(-10) M. Intra- and interday precision were 3.3% RSD (n = 11) and 4.8% RSD (n = 7), respectively. The method has been applied to beverages and other foods.