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 C column after pre-column derivatization using -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 =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.