Simple and rapid determination of biogenic amines in wine by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

A rapid liquid chromatographic–electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-ITMS) method has been developed for the routine analysis of eight of the most oenologically important biogenic amines in wine without any sample pre-treatment. The method involves addition of heptylamine as an internal standard (IS) and the direct injection of filtered wine samples previously diluted with ultra high purity (UHP) water. The full-scan MS–MS spectra and the identical retention times to those of reference standards were used for unequivocal identification of the analytes. For most amines, the most abundant ions were derived from the loss of an ammonia group, while in the case of spermine and the I.S. the major product ions arose from the loss of 1,3-propyldiamine and the production of adduct with water, respectively. Detection was achieved in positive ionisation with an ion trap mass spectrometer operating in multiple -reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method allowed accurate determination of the analytes in the range 0.5–40 ng mL^-1. Withinday and between-day relative standard deviation percentages were (less than)8% and (less than)12%, respectively. The overall process was successfully applied to identify and quantify biogenic amines in Rioja red wines. The new method is sensitive, rapid, cheap and less labour intensive.