Determination of ω-Betaines in Aquatic Animals by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A method is described for the HPLC analysis of glycinebetaine, β-alaninebetaine. and γ-butyrobetaine in aquatic animals. The betaines in marine animals were extracted with 80% methanol and converted to p-bromophenacyl esters by treatment with p-bromophenacyl bromide in the presence of 18-crown-6 and KH₂PO₄. The esters of betaines having UV absorption maximum at 262nm were separated on Shimpack FLC-CN using 10mM KH₂PO₄ containing 2% acetonitrile, pH 2.10 as a mobile phase, The recoveries of betaines added to the muscle of marine animals were in the range from 93 to 104%.