Food Hygiene and Safety Science (Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi)
Online ISSN : 1882-1006
Print ISSN : 0015-6426
ISSN-L : 0015-6426
Original Paper
Performance Evaluation of an Improved GC-MS Method to Quantify Methylmercury in Fish
Takahiro WATANABEHiroyuki KIKUCHIRieko MATSUDATomoko HAYASHIKoichi AKAKIReiko TESHIMA
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2015 Volume 56 Issue 3 Pages 69-76

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Abstract

Here, we set out to improve our previously developed methylmercury analytical method, involving phenyl derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the improved method, phenylation of methylmercury with sodium tetraphenylborate was carried out in a toluene/water two-phase system, instead of in water alone. The modification enabled derivatization at optimum pH, and the formation of by-products was dramatically reduced. In addition, adsorption of methyl phenyl mercury in the GC system was suppressed by co-injection of PEG200, enabling continuous analysis without loss of sensitivity. The performance of the improved analytical method was independently evaluated by three analysts using certified reference materials and methylmercury-spiked fresh fish samples. The present analytical method was validated as suitable for determination of compliance with the provisional regulation value for methylmercury in fish, set in the Food Sanitation haw.

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© 2015 Japanese Society for Food Hygiene and Safety
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