Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy tandem with derivatized thin-layer chromatography for ultra-sensitive on-site detection of histamine from fish

Sensitive and rapid detection of histamine in fish sample was important for human health. A novel and facile method for on-site detecting histamine in fish was developed by tandem surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with derivatized thin-layer chromatography. Histamine in tuna was firstly separated by TLC process on a diatomite plate, and then derivatized with fluorescamine (FSA). SERS is used for identification of histamine derivative by a portable Raman spectrometer. The operating conditions were optimized for improving the detection performance. Diatomite plate was suitable for separation and derivatization, 40 times concentrated Au colloid, 1 mM of FSA at pH = 8 were appropriate for the derivatization and SERS detection, and the limit of detection of histamine could achieve 9 ppb. The results indicated that the proposed method not only visualized the histamine on TLC plate but also improve the sensitivity in SERS, that could be employed for the on-site separating and detecting histamine from fish sample.