A rapid method for the determination of dopamine in porcine muscle by pre-column derivatization and HPLC with fluorescence detection

A rapid method has been developed based on the sample preparation procedure named as QuEChERS (Quick,Easy,Cheap,Effective,Rugged and Safe),combined with reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector and C18 column after precolumn derivatization using o-phthalaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol to determine dopamine in porcine muscle.Methanol and deionized water (0.1% acetic acid,v/v) with a ratio of 60∶40 was used as mobile phase.The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min and dopamine was eluted within 15 min.The linearity range was 0.003-8 μg/mL with r=0.9992.The detection limit for dopamine was 4 μg/kg and the quantification limit was 9 μg/kg.Recovery studies were carried out at 0.1,0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg fortification levels and the average recoveries obtained ranged from 90.4% to 98.2% with relative standard deviations between 3.5% and 8.1%.The method was found to be suitable for detection of dopamine in animal product tissues at the maximum residue level.