Rapid detection of histamine in fish based on the fluorescence characteristics of carbon nitride

Histamine is an organic nitrogen-containing compound produced by the decarboxylation of histidine and is toxic in high intakes. Therefore, Histamine detection is an important work for food safety. In the present study, a rapid detection method for histamine in fish was established based on the fluorescence activity of graphite phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4). After calcinating the mixture of melamine, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride, g-C3N4 was obtained with strong fluorescence and good dispersity in solutions. The strong blue fluorescence of g-C3N4 at 420 nm was fairly selectively quenched by histamine with linear range from 5 μmol L−1 to 800 μmol L−1, and the detection limit was 0.61 mg kg−1 (3σ/K, n = 9). The fluorescent method was applied to histamine detection in different kinds of fish, and the data were validated by the method of high-performance liquid chromatography. The results indicated that the established fluorescent method was suitable for the rapid detection of histamine in fish with high accuracy, sensitivity, and stability.