Abstract
To develop a method for determining the aflatoxin content of edible salt, we studied a “direct method” whereby the amount of aflatoxin in dissolved edible salt was directly measured by LC/MS, and a “desalination method” whereby the aflatoxin was measured by LC/MS after being extracted from the salt solution by an immuno-affinity column. With the desalination method, the aflatoxin was efficiently extracted from the salt solution regardless of the concentration of the solution. We applied the desalination method to determine the aflatoxin content of edible salt. We showed that aflatoxin degraded at a high pH and that aflatoxins easily adsorbed onto any insoluble matter in edible salt. To prevent the adsorption onto any such insoluble matter, the sample was dissolved in a mixed solution of 20％ acetonitrile and water. This method enabled us to determine the aflatoxin content of edible salt containing insoluble matter.
