Precolumn derivatization of six short-chain aliphatic amines by a near-infrared dye, 1-(e-succinimydyl-hexanoate)-1'-methyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine-5,5'- disulfonate potassium (MeCy5-OSu), followed by MEKCCELIF detection has been developed as a method for the determination of aliphatic amines in environmental water and food. Optimum derivatization was operated nicely in pH 9.0 borate buffer at 20 degrees C for 30 min. Well separated peaks were observed with a pH 9.5 BGE containing 10 mmol L-1 phosphoric acid, 20 mmol L-1 SDS, and 7% methanol buffered with 1.0 mol L-1 NaOH. The separation procedure was rapidly achieved within 11 min and the matrix interferences could be effectively eliminated. A linear calibration graph was obtained for 5200 nmol L-1 analytes with a correlation coefficient in the range 0.99330.9995 for amines. This method was successfully utilized to determine aliphatic amines in lake, sewage water, and red wine with recoveries ranging from 96.4 to 105% and the RSDs ranging from 0.9 to 2.9%. Near-infrared, LIF-detector-compatible MeCy5-OSu was proved suitable for the accurate, sensitive, and rapid separation and determination of aliphatic amines in water and food samples.