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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #236467

Title: Influence of Surfactants on the Fluorescence Detection of Zearalenone

Author
item Appell, Michael

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2009
Publication Date: 3/25/2009
Citation: Appell, M.D. 2009. Influence of Surfactants on the Fluorescence Detection of Zearalenone [abstract]. American Chemical Society. p. 38.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Zearalenone is an estrogenic mycotoxin with broad potential to contaminate a variety of agricultural commodities, including corn. This toxin is produced by Fusarium species and poses health risks, especially to swine. The native fluorescence of zearalenone provides an opportune means to determine contamination levels; however, analysis can be complicated by competing fluorescence quenching phenomenon, including aqueous conditions. Structure-property relationships for a diverse set of surfactants are evaluated for the ability to enhance zearalenone fluorescence. Anionic, non-ionic, and cationic surfactants at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration provide an enhancement of the fluorescence detection of zearalenone under aqueous conditions. Triton X-100 gave the greatest enhancement of the surfactants examined in this study. This study provides a better understanding of the interactions of zearalenone and surfactants to assist in the application of these materials in methods of detection.