Differential-pulse polarography of trichothecene mycotoxins : Determination of Deoxynivalenol,Nivalenol and Fusarenone-X in Maize

The polarographic behaviour of representative trichothecenes is described. Compounds characterized by an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group or by a macrocyclic lactonic ring were found to be electroactive in a methanolic Britton—Robinson buffer. Differential pulse polarography provides detection limits of the order of 40 nmol l^?1 with linear ranges extending up to 9 μmol l^?1. The application of differential pulse polarography is described for the determination of nivalenol (3α, 4β, 7α, 15-tetrahydroxy-12,13-epoxytrichotec-9-en-8-one), deoxynivalenol (3α, 7α, 15-trihydroxy-12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-en-8-one) and fusarenone-X (3α, 7α, 15-trihydroxy-4 β-acetoxy-12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-en-8-one) in infected maize. A suitable liquid/liquid extraction and chromatographic cleanup procedure is reported. Detection limits for the overall procedure and for a sample size of 50 g are of the order of 50 ng g^?1 while average recoveries range from 20 to 70% at the 1 μg g^?1 level. Polarographic results are compared with those obtained by a gas-chromatographic method.