Abstract # A-26

Isolation and Purification of Fumonisins B1, B2, B3.  R.M. Eppley, M.E. Stack, F.S. Thomas, S.M. Musser, S.W. Page, CFSAN, FDA, Washington, DC and R.D. Plattner, USDA, ARS, Peoria, IL

The preparation of fumonisin B1 (FB1) at the kilogram level and of fumonisins B2 and B3 (FB2 and FB3, respectively) at the multiple gram level for use in toxicological studies will be discussed. The FB1 was isolated from Fusarium proliferatum grown on whole corn by extraction with acetonitrile-water (1+1) or methanol-water (3+1) followed by a series of preparatory HPLC systems utilizing both C-18 and cyano-based columns. The FB2 and FB3 were isolated from corn cultured strains of Fusarium moniliforme selected for their capability to produce the respective fumonisin derivative. The problems encountered in the overloading of the capacity of laboratory-scale preparatory equipment, and the determination of the purity will be discussed.