Abstract:

A rapid HPLC method was developed to determine 4-hexylresorcinol (4-HR) in shrimp meat. The sample was extracted with acetonitrile, filtrated through the 0.45μm membrane and then injected into the HPLC column. The analysis was performed on a reversed-phase C18 column using a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (70:30, V/V) with fluorimetric detection (excitation: 280 nm, and emission: 320 nm). The analyte could be separated within 10 min by the procedure. The linear range was 0.02－50.0 mg/L (r = 0.99996) and the detection limit was 0.1 mg/kg. The average recovery ranged from 97.6% to 99.9% (n = 7), with a relative standard derivation from 2.1% to 4.6%. The method has the advantages of simplicity, repeatability and low detection limit, and can be used for analysis of shrimp samples in large quantity.

Key words: 4-hexylresorcinol, shrimp, high performance liquid chromatography