Fluorometric determination of nitrite in cured meats

An indirect fluorometric method for determining sodium nitrite in meat products is presented. The extracted sodium nitrite is consumed in a diazotization reaction with a measured excess of sulfanilic acid. Fluorescamine, which acts selectively with primary amines such as sulfanilic acid, is a fluorogenic reagent for the excess amine. The amine consumed, calculated by difference from the total originally present, is directly related to the sodium nitrite content of the sample. Interferences from amino acids and soluble proteins in the meat extract are eliminated by judicious use of a secondary peak in the fluorescence spectra (436 nm excitation, 495 nm fluorescence) combined with measurement at low pH (3.30). The recoveries of sodium nitrite ranged from 83.2 to 99.6% with an average of 93.4 and a standard deviation of +/- 5.28% for 11 determinations.