Most of the methods applied to the analysis of melamine were LC-MS, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and HPLC-UV. Fluorescence detection was also used by some authors for the analysis of melamine but it was rarely applied in HPLC method. This study is the first trial of HPLC-FL method for the determination of melamine, and it is compared with some previously reported methods. As shown in Table 2, the proposed method is distinguished
by its high sensitivity. LCeMS and GC-MS methods are also very sensitive, but the instruments are expensive and the
running cost is high. In contrast, UV and FL methods are simple and inexpensive, but UV methods lack selectivity,
while the sensitivity of current FL systems is not satisfying with LODs of higher than 120 mg L1. HPLC-UV method is a common analytical tool, but its sensitivity for melamine is not satisfying and interferences often occur. The current study greatly enhances the HPLC sensitivity of melamine with less interference observed. More importantly, the HPLC analysis of melamine could be carried out on a common reversed phase column with no ion-pair reagent or buffer solution needed. This brings much convenience for HPLC users.