A method for benzoyl chloride derivatization of biogenic amines for high performance liquid chromatography

A new benzoylation procedure was developed which was more reliable than the most common benzoylation procedures in terms of reaction time, peak resolution, detector response and repeatability. Methylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, tryptamine, β-phenylethylamine, spermidine, spermine, histamine, tyramine and agmatine were studied. Linearity for each biogenic amine was observed with a good regression coefficient. Limits of detection were found between 0.2 mg/l and 2.5 mg/l. Recovery rates varied from 72.8% to 103.4%. Temperature and pH of mobile phase were studied and found that 20 °C of column temperature with a pH of 8 was preferable. It was established that polyvinylpyrrolidone adsorbed biogenic amines and caused interference in HPLC determination of biogenic amines that had been used by some authors to eliminate interfering phenolic compounds in wine samples.