Quantitative Analysis of Aflatoxins by High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Utilizing a Scientifically Operated Charge-Coupled Device Detector

The use of a scientifically operated charge-coupled device (CCD) for the detection and quantitation of aflatoxins on a high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) plate was investigated. A nebulizer-based sample application system was utilized to quantitatively transfer the sample onto the HPTLC plate without disturbing the sorbent layer. Fluorescence excitation of the aflatoxins was accomplished with an ultraviolet transilluminator, which caused the analytes of interest to emit in the blue-green portion of the visible spectrum. The dynamic range, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the system were evaluated. Detection limits of the aflatoxins were determined to be in the low picogram range. The existence of aflatoxins in peanut butter samples was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively by using multidimensional TLC. The capabilities of the system for performing real-time monitoring of the separation process were also investigated.