Improved methodology for the simultaneous detection of the trichothecene mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and nivalenol in cereals

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Abstract
A simple and sensitive method was developed for the analysis of 2 trichothecene mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol and nivalenol) in cereals. These toxins were extracted with acetonitrile/water (3:1), defatted with n-hexane and purified by a 2-step chromatographic procedure using Florisil and Sep-pak columns. The amounts of deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) in the column eluates were quantitated by gas chromatography with electron capture detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (selected ion monitoring). The limits of detection of the method were 2.0 .mu.g/kg for DON and NIV with recoveries of the toxins spiked into polished rice, wheat and corn at 300 .mu.g/kg averaging 87 and 86%, respectively.