HPLC determination of salinomycin and related compounds in fermentation media of Streptomyces albus and premixes

A rapid, sensitive and selective HPLC method with post-column derivatization was proposed for the determination of salinomycin and related products in fermentation broths and premixes. The solvent extracts of samples were analysed on a reversed-phase monolithic type column. The mobile phase consisted of methanol/zinc acetate (0.05 M) adjusted to pH 4.0 with acetic acid (85/15, v/v). Post-column derivatization with vanillin at 85 °C was used for simultaneous, selective detection of salinomycin at 520 nm and related products at 460 nm. Optimal ratio of mobile phase/reagent flow rate was 2:1. Alternatively, pre-column derivatization of salinomycin and related products with three different reagents (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, p-bromophenacyl bromide and p-nitrobenzoyl chloride) was examined. Suitable derivates for HPLC separation and UV detection were prepared using p-nitrobenzoyl chloride. Extraction ability of various solvents for extracting of salinomycin and co-products from premix samples was also tested. Acetone, ethanol and pyridine were found to be the best extraction solvents for these compounds.