Determination of Zearalenol and Zearalenone Using Electrochemical Detection

Abstract

A method is described for the determination of zearalenol and zearalenone in corn using electrochemical detection. the sample is extracted with chloroform, and the extract is cleaned up by liquid-liquid partition. Zearalenol and zearalenone are resolved by liquid chromatography (LC), using a C₁₈ column and a mobile phase consisting of 35 + 25 + 40 CH₃ CN + MeOH + H₂O and 0.02 mole/L sodium acetate buffered at pH 6.5. Zearalenol and zearalenone were detected with an electrochemical detector at an applied potential of +0.95V vs Ag/AgCl. Average recoveries of zearalenol and zearalenone in corn samples spiked at levels of 25–1000 ng/g were 104,2 and 97.5%, respectively. the coefficients of variation for the proposed method were 10.8% for zearalenol and 8.8% for zearalenone.     

Preparative method for isolating alpha-zearalenol and zearalenone using extracting disk

A liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of zearalenol and zearalenone in corn. Zearalenol and zearalenone are extracted from corn with methanol-water (1 + 1) and cleaned up using a solid-phase extraction (SPE) disk, separated on a reversed-phase analytical column, and detected with a fluorescence detector. The SPE disk concentrated and cleanly separated zearalenol and zearalenone from sample interferences. Standard calibration curves for zearalenol and zearalenone for the concentration range 25-500 ng/mL were linear. The small extract disk had a column capacity equivalent to 1 g extracted corn. Zearalenol and zearalenone were added at levels ranging from 10 to 2000 ng/g to a control sample that contained no detectable levels of zearalenol and zearalenone. Both toxins were recovered from spiked samples at 106.3 and 103.8%, with coefficients of variation of 7.6 and 13.0%, respectively. The method has an estimated reliable limit of detection and limit of quantitation around 10 and 40 ng/g for each toxin, respectively.     

Determination of zearalenone in cereal grains, animal feed, and feed ingredients using immunoaffinity column chromatography and liquid chromatography: interlaboratory study

A method using immunoaffinity column chromatography (IAC) and liquid chromatography (LC) for determination of zearalenone in cereal grains, animal feed, and feed ingredients was collaboratively studied. The test portion is extracted by shaking with acetonitrile-water (90 + 10, v/v) and sodium chloride. The extract is diluted and applied to an immunoaffinity column, the column is washed with water or phosphate-buffered saline or methanol-water (30 + 70, v/v), and zearalenone is eluted with methanol. The eluate is evaporated, the residue is dissolved in mobile phase and analyzed by reversed-phase LC with fluorescence detection. The presence of zearalenone can be confirmed using an alternate excitation wavelength or diode array detection. Twenty samples were sent to 13 collaborators (8 in Europe, 2 in the United States, one in Japan, one in Uruguay, and one in Canada). Eighteen samples of naturally contaminated corn, barley, wheat, dried distillers grains, swine feed, and dairy feed were analyzed as blind duplicates, along with blank corn and wheat samples. The analyses were done in 2 sample sets with inclusion of a spiked wheat control sample (0.1 mg/kg) in each set. Spiked samples recoveries were 89-116%, and for the 18 naturally contaminated samples, RSDr values (within-laboratory repeatability) ranged from 6.67 to 12.1%, RSDR values (among-laboratory reproducibility) ranged from 12.5 to 19.7%, and HorRat values ranged from 0.61 to 0.90.     

Evaluation of a fluorometric-enzymatic method based on 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for the mycotoxin zearalenone determination in corn

A new method for the fluorometric determination of zearalenone (ZEN) based on its reaction with βNADH in the presence of the enzyme 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD) is described. The procedure is based on the change in fluorescence intensity that takes place during the enzymatic reaction (excitation at 340 nm and emission at 454 nm). The optimum reaction conditions and the analytical characteristics were studied; linear response range (1-10 mg l⁻¹) and reproducibility (8 mg l⁻¹, 2.7%, n=7). Moreover, a mathematical model explaining the analytical signal is proposed. The method has been applied to zearalenone determination in a spiked corn sample.     

Detection and identification of quinonemethide triterpenes in Peritassa campestris by mass spectrometry

Analysis of tingenone and tingenol quinonemethide triterpenes was made by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of their trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers. An extra TMS group, in addition to those predicted from the known structures, is added to these compounds during the derivatization process. The electron impact mass spectra showed base peaks at m/z 549 and 623, respectively, for the TMS derivatives of tingenone and tingenol, and electrospray (ES) and collision-activated dissociation (CAD) studies indicate that these ions correspond to losses of a methyl group from the derivatives studied. A mechanism, based on ES-MS/MS studies, is suggested for the derivatization and fragmentation pattern.     

Immuno-affinity columns versus conventional clean-up: a method-comparison study for the determination of zearalenone in corn

The efficiency of a modern analytical method employing immuno-affinity columns (IACs) is compared to a well established traditional technique with respect to the determination of zearalenone (ZON) in corn in the μg/kg range. Despite of a constant error of about 4 μg/kg in the examined working range of 10–200 μg/kg, analytical data obtained from the analysis of spiked and naturally contaminated samples showed good correspondence for the compared methods. The performance characteristics of immuno-affinity-chromatography as a new clean-up technique for the determination of ZON in corn is reported for the first time and compared to a conventional clean-up procedure     

Gas-liquid chromatographic studies of reactions and structural relationships of steroids. IV. Substitution in the pregnane side-chain.

Qualitative and quantitative effects of classical reactions on steroids observed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) under standardized conditions, including the double internal standard technique are reported. Simple procedures applicable to nanogram amounts of reactants are described. Reactions studied include the conversion of keto groups to hydroxyl groups by NaBH4, and to dioxolone derivatives by 1,2-diethanol; 17 alpha-hydroxylation of C20-ketosteroids; the conversion of hydroxyl groups to trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers by hexamethyldisilazane; the hydrolysis of dioxolone and TMS derivatives by H+. Effects of Wolff-Kishner reagents, and CrO3 were also studied. GLC chromatograms of reaction mixtures of single- and multistep reactions readily provide information on effects on functional groups at positions 3, 17, 20, and 21 in the pregnane series, and the retention times of many steroids unavailable from commercial and other sources. GLC data analysis provides relationships between steroid structure and retention time from which methods for the computation of retention times and for steroid identification are designed. The accuracy of the computation methods is demonstrated.     

Development of an analytical system for the simultaneous determination of anabolic macrocyclic lactones in aquatic environmental samples

An analytical procedure that enables routine analysis for trace determination of six anabolic macrocyclic lactones (zearalenone, alpha- and beta-zearalenol, zearalanone, zeranol, and taleranol) in sewage treatment plant (STP) samples has been developed. The method uses solid-phase extraction, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line tandem mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC/APCI-MS/MS). The extraction of these compounds from filtered water samples was performed off-line with C(18) solid-phase cartridges. The detection was achieved by isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an heated nebulizer (HN) APCI interface operating in negative ion mode. Mean recovery of the analytes in STP effluent samples generally exceeded 81%. This method was used to determine the occurrence of target analytes in the aquatic environment. In the selected STP effluent samples, zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol were detected in the ng/L range.     

Gas chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis of trimethylsilyl derivatives

A method based on the analysis of trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives by capillary gas chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (GC–ESI/MS) was proposed. To improve separation, analytes were derivatized to their TMS derivative. During ESI analysis, TMS derivatives may hydrolyze back to their polar native form and are thus suitable for ESI analysis. Several types of analytes were studied to investigate the potential of the approach. Not all TMS derivatives hydrolyzed back to their native form as anticipated. Incomplete hydrolysis was observed for TMS‐organic acids and TMS‐nonchlorinated phenols. For TMS‐chlorophenols, the observation of only the [M ? H]^? ion suggested that these phenols were hydrolyzed back to their native form. For TMS‐beta agonists, the hydrolysis rate was low; therefore, the hydrolysis product was not detected. Both TMS‐chlorophenols and TMS‐beta agonists provide a sensitivity in the range of low parts per billion (0.25–5 ng/ml and 0.5–10 ng/ml respectively). Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid immunoaffinity-based method for determination of zearalenone in corn by fluorometry and liquid chromatography

An immunoaffinity-based method was developed to determine zearalenone in corn. Corn samples were extracted in acetonitrile-water (90 + 10, v/v), applied to an immunoaffinity column, and eluted with methanol. The isolated toxin was quantitated either by reaction with aluminum chloride hexahydrate (AlCl3.6H2O) prior to measurement with a fluorometer or injection into a liquid chromatographic (LC) system with a fluorescence detector. Performance was evaluated in terms of antibody specificity, limit of detection, percentage recovery, precision, column capacity, assay linearity, and comparison with AOAC Official Method 985.18. With the immunoaffinity column cleanup procedure, only zearalenone and its metabolites were recognized by the antibody (> or = 75% recovery). Limits of detection were 0.10 microgram/g for the fluorometer and 0.10 or 0.0025 microgram/g (sensitive method) for the LC method. Percentage recovery averaged 105% (fluorometer) and 93% (LC method), with average relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 15.7 and 9.3%. Naturally contaminated samples gave comparable RSDs of 8.3 and 9.9% for the fluorometer and LC methods, respectively. Column capacity was 4.0 micrograms with 89% recovery. Assay linearity was comparable for both methods (r2 = 0.998). Optimum assay ranges were 0.10-5.0 micrograms/g for the fluorometer and 0.10-50 or 0.0025-5.0 micrograms/g (sensitive method) for the LC method. Comparative analysis of 17 naturally contaminated corn samples using Zearala Test LC and the official AOAC LC method for detection of zearalenone showed that Zearala Test is statistically comparable to the AOAC Official Method 985.18 (r2 = 0.747).     

Determination of alpha- and beta-zearalenol and zearalenone in cereals by gas chromatography with ion-trap detection.

A method for determination of estrogenic mycotoxins, alpha- and beta-zearalenol and zearalenone, in cereals (wheat, barley, oats, corn) is described. After extraction with ethylacetate, clean-up involved a base treatment and partition with water; derivatization was by trimethylsilylation. For quantitation and confirmation a capillary gas chromatograph combined with a selective mass detector (ion trap), working in the electron impact-mode was used. The detection limit for the complete method is 1 microgram/kg for each of the three mycotoxins in full scan. Recoveries from spiked cereals were 82-86%.     

An improved method for the capillary gas chromatographic derivatization of polyhydroxylated steroids having tert-hydroxyl groups.

An improved method for a suitable derivatization of polyhydroxylated steroids having one or two tert-hydroxyl groups at the 5beta-, 14alpha-, 17alpha-, 24-, and/or 25-positions by capillary gas chromatography (CGC) is described. By using trimethylsilyl triflate as a silylating reagent and 2,6-lutidine as a catalyst, each of 5beta-cholane and 5alpha-cholestane series of steroids was successfully transformed into trimethylsilyl (TMS) ether derivatives to give a single CGC peak under mild conditions. More bulky triethylsilyl (TES) etherification of 14alpha- and 17alpha-hydroxy compounds provided multiple CGC peaks arising from completely- and/or incompletely-derivatized TES ethers accompanied by their thermal elimination products.     

Mass spectrometry of hydroxy dicarboxylic acids as trimethylsilyl derivatives. Rearrangement fragmentations

Gas chromatography—mass spectrometry offers a convenient method for the separation and identification of hydroxy dicarboxylic acids as open-chain trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives. Mass spectra were studied of aldaric (tartronic, tartaric, pentaric and hexaric) acids and deoxyaldaric (malic, 2-deoxypentaric, 2-deoxyhexaric, 3-deoxypentaric and 3-deoxyhexaric) acids. The different structural types can be readily identified from their characteristic spectra. The most prominent fragmentations involving the rupture of one bond are the loss of a siliconlinked methyl group and the formation of α-cleavage ions by carbon chain cleavage. The further decay is characterized by a number of significant rearrangements specific of TMS derivatives. Several of these can be classified as involving migration of a TMS group to an oxygen atom or migration of an ester OTMS group to a silicon atom. Concomitant loss of a stable molecule often provides a driving force. Prominent odd-electron ions are formed by a McLafferty-type rearrangement of a TMS group. The decomposition of several even-electron ions can be regarded as analogous to that rearrangement.     

Gas-liquid chromatographic studies of reactions and structural relationships of steroids. Part III. 11alpha-hydroxysteroids of the androstane and pregnane series.

Qualitative and quantitative effects of classical reactions on steroids observed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) under standardized conditions, including the double internal-standard technique, are reported. Simple procedures applicable to nanogram amounts of reactants which afford excellent yields of the major products are described. Reactions studied include the Wolff-Kishner removal of keto groups, their conversion into hydroxyl groups with sodium-ethanol or sodium borohydride and into dioxolone derivatives with ethylene glycol; the conversion of hydroxyl into keto groups with chromium trioxide and to trimethylsilyl (TMS) ethers by hexamethyldisilazane; the hydrolysis of dioxolone and TMS derivatives by H+. Gas-liquid chromatograms of reaction mixtures of single- and multistep reactions readily provide information on the effects on the 11alpha-hydroxy and other functional groups at positions 3 and 17 (androstane series) and positions 3 and 20 (pregnane series), and the retention times of many steroids unavailable from commercial or other sources. GLC data analysis provides relationships between steroid structure and retention time from which methods for the computation of retention times and for steroid identification are designed. The accuracy of the calculation methods is demonstrated.     

Chromatographic resolution of molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine as n-acyl-o-methyl derivatives

Phosphatidylethanolamines were converted into the N-acetyl-O-methyl or N-benzoyl-O-methyl derivatives by treatment with acetic anhydride/benzoyl chloride and diazomethane. Methods for the separation of these derivatives by argentation thin-layer chromatography and reversed-phase partition thin-layer chromatography are described. The procedure is especially advantageous for the analysis of phosphatidylethanolamines that are radioactively labelled in the ethanolamine moiety.     

Examination of the esterified fatty acids from mouse erythrocyte and synaptosomal membrane phospholipids and their distribution between the various phospholipid types

Esterified fatty acids from mouse erythrocyte and synaptosomal membranes were characterised by fused-silica capillary gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Structural information was obtained from the mass spectra of a number of derivatives including trimethylsilyl (TMS), methyl and picolinyl esters together with the TMS ethers of glycols derived from the unsaturated acids. In addition to previously characterised acids, small concentrations of several acids previously unreported from these membranes were identified. These included branched chain acids and several unsaturated acids.     

Immuno-affinity columns versus conventional clean-up: a method-comparison study for the determination of zearalenone in corn

The efficiency of a modern analytical method employing immuno-affinity columns (IACs) is compared to a well established traditional technique with respect to the determination of zearalenone (ZON) in corn in the μg/kg range. Despite of a constant error of about 4 μg/kg in the examined working range of 10–200 μg/kg, analytical data obtained from the analysis of spiked and naturally contaminated samples showed good correspondence for the compared methods. The performance characteristics of immuno-affinity-chromatography as a new clean-up technique for the determination of ZON in corn is reported for the first time and compared to a conventional clean-up procedure Received: 25 March 1997 / Revised: 5 May 1997 / Accepted: 12 May 1997     

Development of an extraction method for the determination of zearalenone in corn using less organic solvents

A method for the determination of zearalenone in corn has been developed applying pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) and using environmentally acceptable and less noxious organic solvents. The extracted samples were analysed with liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) equipped with an electrospray (ESI) ionisation interface. The optimised extraction mixture was isopropanol and an aqueous solution of triethylamine (1%) 50:50 (v/v), which allowed to halve the use of organic solvent compared to the method proposed by ISO. When applying the optimised method to five different naturally contaminated corn samples the obtained concentrations were slightly increased compared to the analysis using the previously used extraction solvent (acetonitrile-methanol). The relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 3) varied between 4 and 10% depending on the concentration level of the target analyte in the test material.     

Development of a liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous determination of trichothecenes, zearalenone and aflatoxins in foodstuffs

A liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC/APCI-MS) method based on time-of-flight MS (TOFMS) with a real-time reference mass correction technique was developed for the simultaneous determination of Fusarium mycotoxins (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenon X, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, HT-2 toxin, T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, zearalenone) and Aspergillus mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2) in corn, wheat, cornflakes and biscuits. Samples were cleaned up with a MultiSep #226 column. Detection of the mycotoxins was carried out in exact mass chromatograms with a mass window of 0.03 Th. Calibration curves were linear from 2 to 200 ng x mL(-1) for trichothecenes and zearalenone, and 0.2 to 20 ng x mL(-1) for aflatoxins, by 20 microL injection. The limits of detection ranged from 0.1 to 6.1 ng x g(-1) in foodstuffs analyzed in this study. The LC/TOFMS method was found to be suitable for the screening of multiple mycotoxins in foodstuffs rapidly and with high sensitivity, and its performance was demonstrated for the confirmation for target mycotoxins.     

Simultaneous determination of the trans and cis forms of zearalenone in cereal products by high-performance liquid chromatography with voltammetric detection

Zearalenone is shown by n.m.r. to exist in the trans and cis forms both in methanolic solution and in cereal products. Conversion of the trans to the cis isomer is enhanced by the effects of ultraviolet irradiation. A method is described for the simultaneous determination of the two isomers by using high-performance liquid chromatography with voltammetric detection. A linear calibration is operative in the range 3–300 ng of zearalenone. Concentrations of trans- and cis-zearalenone in wheat and corn down to 5 ng g^-1 can be determined in 10-g cereal samples.