Gas chromatographic determination of deoxynivalenol in wheat with electron capture detection.

A method is described for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat. The method involves sample extraction with chloroform-ethanol (8 + 2), column chromatographic cleanup on silica gel of small particle size, and derivatization with heptafluorobutyric acid anhydride using 4-dimethylaminopyridine as a catalyst. The derivative DON tris-heptafluorobutyrate is determined by gas chromatography using an electron capture detector. Recoveries of DON added to wheat at levels of 118-1184 ng/g averaged 88% with a coefficient of variation of 8.6%.