A method for measuring potency of narasin extracts using near-IR spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Narasin is a key component in animal feed.
• Accurate quantification of narasin is crucial for feed quality control.
• Existing methods like HPLC can be time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a rapid method for extracting and quantifying narasin.
• To assess the accuracy and reliability of near-infrared absorption spectroscopy (NIRS) for narasin analysis.
• To evaluate the robustness of the developed NIRS method.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of narasin from granulated samples using chloroform.
• Quantification using near-infrared absorption spectroscopy (NIRS).
• Development of a multiple linear regression (MLR) calibration model.
• Validation against High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
• Robustness testing using a full factorial experimental design.

Main Results:

• The NIRS method demonstrated high accuracy, with errors not exceeding 8% compared to HPLC.
• The method's detection limit was estimated at 400 ppm narasin.
• Standard deviation for replicate extractions was approximately 24 ppm.
• Sample mass and chloroform batch variations were identified as significant factors affecting results.

Conclusions:

• NIRS offers a viable and accurate alternative for narasin quantification.
• The developed method is suitable for routine analysis in feed quality control.
• Further optimization is recommended to minimize variations due to sample mass and solvent quality.