Abstract: An ion chromatographic (IC) method was developed for the separation of five biogenic amines (BAs), including putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, spermidine and spermine, in source water. The sample was separated on a TSK-GEL SuperIC cation exchange column (150 mm×4.6 mm) after filtering treatment by 0.45 μm inorganic membrane. Methanesulfonic acid was used as eluent for concentration gradient elution at the rate of 1.0 mL/min. The injection volume was 100 μL and the BAs were detected by a non-suppressed conductivity detector. The result showed that the baseline separation was obtained for the 5 kinds of BAs. The linear relationships between the concentration and the peak area were obtained in the concentration range of 1.0~30.0 mg/L. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of retention time and peak area were no more than 0.02% and 2.08%, respectively. The recoveries were from 96.0% to 107.0%. The method is simple, rapid, highly sensitive and with good repeatability. It could be used for the determination the BAs in the source water.

Key words: biogenic amines (BAs), cadaverine, histamine, putrescine, source water , spermidine, spermine, ion chromatography (IC)