Normal-phase liquid chromatographic determination of menadione in animal feeds

A simple method is presented for determination of menadione in vitamin premixes and feedstuffs by normal-phase liquid chromatography (LC). Vitamin K3 is extracted and converted to free menadione, which can be determined directly by LC analysis. Peak area or height is measured at 251 nm, and menadione is quantitated by comparison with the working standard. Menadione can be estimated with a detection limit of 2.5 ppm. Recoveries for premixes ranged from 97.3 to 98.3% and for feedstuffs from 93.7 to 96.8%. The method allows the assay of all commercial K3 compounds in pure or stabilized form and is applicable to a wide variety of feeds and premixes.