Quantitative determination of trace concentrations of tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotics in surface water using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography/ion trap tandem mass spectrometry

The occurrence of human and veterinary pharmaceutical compounds in surface waters (e.g. streams, lakes and reservoirs) is an important emerging environmental issue. There is a need for robust, sensitive and reliable analytical methods for measuring these compounds in a variety of natural water and wastewater matrices. This paper describes a method for the determination of seven tetracycline (TC) and six sulfonamide (SA) compounds in pristine and wastewater-influenced surface water using solid-phase extraction, and LCQ Duo ion trap liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with positive electrospray ionization (ESI(+)) and selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The seven TCs and six SAs analyzed using this method include oxytetracycline (OTC), chlortetracycline (CTC), tetracycline (TC), democlocycline (DMC), doxycycline (DXC), meclocycline (MCC), minocycline (MNC), sulfathiazole (STZ), sulfamerazine (SMR), sulfamethazine (SMT), sulfachloropyridazine (SCP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and sulfadimethoxane (SDM). This study discusses the effects of flow rate, LC column diameter and LC column temperature on UV and/or mass peak quality of the different analytes. Several product ions for MS/MS detection have been identified and compared for ion trap and triple quadrupole LC/MS/MS instruments. Statistical analysis for determination of the method detection limit (MDL), accuracy and precision of the method is described. Matrix effects are evaluated in deionized, pristine and wastewater-influenced river water. The method is applied to evaluate the occurrence of these compounds in a small watershed in northern Colorado.     

Development and validation of an HPLC confirmatory method for the determination of seven tetracycline antibiotics residues in milk according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC

An HPLC method with diode-array detection, at 355 nm, was developed and validated for the determination of seven tetracyclines (TCs) in milk: minocycline (MNC), TC, oxytetracycline (OTC), methacycline (MTC), demeclocycline (DMC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and doxycycline (DC). Oxalate buffer (pH 4) was used with 20% TCA as a deproteinization agent for the extraction of analytes from milk followed by SPE. The separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS-3, 5 microm, 250 x 4 mm(2 )analytical column at ambient temperature. The mobile phase, a mixture of A: 0.01 M oxalic acid and B: CH(3)CN, was delivered using a gradient program. The procedure was validated according to the European Union decision 2002/657/EC determining selectivity, stability, decision limit, detection capability, accuracy, and precision. Mean recoveries of TCs from spiked milk samples (50, 100, and 200 ng/g) were 93.8-100.9% for MNC, 96.8-103.7% for OTC, 96.3-101.8% for TC, 99.4-107.2% for DMC, 99.4-102.9% for CTC, 96.3-102.7% for MTC, and 94.6-102.1% for DC. All RSD values were lower than 8.5%. The decision limits CC(a) calculated by spiking 20 blank milk samples at MRL (100 microg/kg) ranged from 101.25 to 105.84 microg/kg, while detection capability CC(b )from 103.94 to 108.88 microg/kg.     

高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱法测定动物饲料中的10种磺胺

建立了动物饲料中10种常用磺胺(磺胺嘧啶、磺胺吡啶、磺胺甲基嘧啶、磺胺-5-甲氧嘧啶、磺胺二甲基嘧啶、磺胺甲氧哒嗪、磺胺甲基异唑、磺胺间甲氧嘧啶、磺胺间二甲氧嘧啶(SDM)和磺胺喹啉(SQX))的高效液相色谱(HPLC)-串联质谱检测方法。样品经提取、固相萃取净化、稀释、HPLC分离后进行质谱分析,在多反应监测模式(MRM)下进行特征母-子离子对信号采集。结合保留时间和离子对信息进行定性分析,以共同碎片离子m/z 156进行定量。10种磺胺的定量检测限(S/N=10)为0.5~2.0 μg/kg,在2.0~200 μg/L(SDM和SQX:1.0~100 μg/L)时峰强度与质量浓度的线性关系良好(r>0.9995)。添加水平为1.0 mg/kg时,10种磺胺的平均回收率范围为70%~92%,日内相对标准偏差小于10%,日间相对标准偏差小于15%。结果表明,该法简单、灵敏,特异性强,适用于饲料中多磺胺组分的分析。     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定鸡肌肉组织中的四环素类药物残留

建立了一种专属、灵敏的方法,用于同时检测鸡肌肉组织中土霉素、四环素和金霉素的残留。首先对鸡肌肉组织中的四环素类药物进行提取,再经C18固相萃取柱净化,采用电喷雾离子源,以正离子检测方式进行质谱分析。实验结果表明,在25～500 μg/L这一质量浓度范围内上述3种四环素类药物均呈线性,其相关系数r＞0.99。在低、中、高3个质量浓度添加水平,3种四环素类药物的平均回收率为72.4%～94.9%,相对标准偏差小于11%。3种四环素类药物的检测限均可达到10 μg/kg。其方法学考察符合农牧发［2003］1号文件的有关规定。     

High-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for routine residue monitoring of seven sulfonamides in milk

A simplified method for routine monitoring of 7 residual sulfonamides (SAs) (sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfamerazine (SMR), sulfadimidine (SDD), sulfamonomethoxine (SMM), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfadimethoxine (SDM), and sulfaquinoxaline (SQ)) in milk using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a photodiode array detector is described. The spiked and blank samples were cleaned up by using an Ultrafree-MC/PL centrifugal ultrafiltration unit. For determination/identification, a Mightysil RP-4 GP column and a mobile phase of 25% (v/v) ethanol in water with a photodiode array detector were used. Average recoveries from milk samples spiked with 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 microg mL(-1) of each drug were >82%. The inter- and intra-assay variabilities were 2.0-3.1%. The practical detection limits for 7 SAs were 0.005-0.02 microg mL(-1). The total time and amount of solvent required for the analysis of one sample were <40 min and <6 mL of ethanol, respectively. No toxic solvents were used.     

Analysis of oxytetracycline, tetracycline, and chlortetracycline in water using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry has been developed for determination of trace levels of tetracycline antibiotics in ground water and confined animal feeding operation waste water. Oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), and chlortetracycline (CTC) were extracted from water samples using both polymeric and C18 extraction cartridges. The addition of a buffer containing potassium phosphate and citric acid improved tetracycline recoveries in lagoon water. Method detection limits determined in reagent water fortified with 1 microg l(-1) OTC, TC, and CTC were 0.21, 0.20, and 0.28 microg l(-1). Method detection limits in lagoon water samples fortified at 20 microg l(-1) for OTC, TC, and CTC were 3.6, 3.1, and 3.8 microg l(-1). Variability in recovery from laboratory fortified blanks ranged from 86 to 110% during routine analysis.     

Simultaneous determination of fluoroquinolones,sulfonamides and tetracyclines in sewage sludge by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

A new scheme for the quantitative determination of traces of fluoroquinolones (FQs), tetracyclines (TCs) and sulfonamides (SAs) in sewage sludge was developed. The compounds were simultaneously extracted from sewage sludge by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). A novel and effective method for PLE was developed. Solid-phase extraction was used for cleaning up the extracts. Identification and quantification of the compounds was done using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in selected reaction monitoring mode. The best recovery of FQs and TCs was obtained by using hydrophilic–lipophilic balance cartridges, recoveries ranged 59% for norfloxacin to 82% for ofloxacin and 95% for doxycycline; for SAs strong cation-exchange cartridges were more efficient, recoveries were 96% for sulfamethoxazole and 43% for sulfadimethoxine. Limit of quantification ranged from 0.1 ng/g for SAs to 160 ng/g for tetracycline. Method precision for TCs was 5.06% and 1.12%, and for SAs 0.43% and 2.01%. FQs precision ranged from 0.77% to 1.89%.     

Determination of sulfonamides in soil samples based on alumina-coated magnetite nanoparticles as adsorbents

In this study, alumina-coated magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄/Al₂O₃ NPs) were synthesized, and they were applied to the analysis of sulfonamides (SAs) including sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfamerazine (SMR), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfamonomethoxine (SMM), sulfamethoxydiazine (SMD), sulfadimethoxine (SDM) and sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) in different soil samples based on magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE). The extraction and concentration process was carried out in a single step by mixing the extraction solvent, magnetic adsorbents and soil sample under ultrasonic action. Then, the adsorbents were isolated from the complicated matrix easily with an external magnetic field. The SAs desorbed from the adsorbents were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Compared with traditional methods, the MSPE method simplified the operation procedure and reduced the analysis time. Under the optimum conditions, the recoveries of SDZ, SMR, SMX, SMM, SMD and SDM by analyzing the five spiked soil samples were between 71% and 93% except for SQX (42-60%). This may be due to the stronger hydrophobic property of SQX. Detection limits of SAs were between 0.37 and 6.74 ng g⁻¹. It was also found that the “aging” effect of SAs contaminated soil could cause the recoveries to decrease.     

固相萃取-高效液相色谱法测定动物肉组织中磺胺类药物的残留

建立了一种快速、灵敏、环保的固相萃取-反相高效液相色谱同时分析动物肉组织中5种磺胺类药物残留的方法。将样品加入到盛有无水硫酸钠的离心管中,再用乙酸乙酯提取;提取液经氨基固相萃取柱净化后,用1.5%（体积分数）乙酸乙醇溶液洗脱。洗脱液用高效液相色谱分离,二极管阵列检测器检测,外标法定量。5种磺胺类药物的线性关系良好,磺胺二甲基嘧啶(SM2)、磺胺间甲氧嘧啶(SMM)、磺胺甲唑(SMZ)的线性范围均为30～5000 μg/L,磺胺二甲氧嘧啶(SDM)、磺胺喹啉(SQ)的线性范围均为60～5000 μg/L。2种动物肉组织(鸡肉、猪肉)中5种磺胺类药物的加标回收率在73.2%至97.3%范围内,当添加水平为50 μg/kg时,加标回收率的相对标准偏差在2.5%至11.6%范围内;SM2,SMM和SMZ的检测限（S/N=3）和定量限（S/N=10）分别为3 μg/kg和10 μg/kg,SDM和SQ的检测限和定量限分别为7 μg/kg和25 μg/kg。     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic/ tandem mass spectrometric method for determination of chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, and doxycycline in animal feeds

A selective and accurate LC/MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), and doxycycline (DC) in animal feeds was developed. Samples were extracted with Na2EDTA-McIlvaine buffer and further purified with Oasis HLB SPE columns. The purified extract was separated on an Xbridge C18 column and detected by LC/MS/MS with positive electrospray ionization in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. This method provided average recoveries of 80.9 to 119.5%, with CVs of 1.7 to 9.8% in the range of 0.5 to 50 mg/kg CTC, OTC, TC, and DC in feeds, except the average recovery of CTC was 76.0%, with a CV of 14.6% in pig feed spiked with 0.5 mg/kg CTC. The linear ranges for the four TCs determined by LC/MS/MS ranged from 0.005 to 2.5 microg/mL with a linear correlation coefficient (R2) >0.99. The LOD and LOQ for CTC, OTC, TC, and DC in pig and poultry feeds ranged from 0.003 to 0.02 and 0.01 to 0.05 microg/g, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the analysis of 30 real feed samples, and no illegal use was detected.     

Tetracycline antibiotics in hospital and municipal wastewaters: a pilot study in Portugal

This study investigated the occurrence of tetracyclines (TCs), namely minocycline (MIN), TC, and its epimer epitetracycline (ETC), and doxycycline (DC), in four hospital wastewater effluents and its fate in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), in Coimbra, Portugal. Analytical determination was carried out by solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. A gradient system with a mobile phase containing oxalic acid 0.02 M and acetonitrile was used. After postcolumn derivatization with magnesium reagent, TCs were detected at λ _exc 386 nm and λ _em 500 nm. The proposed method allowed good sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. LOQs were 0.5 μg l⁻¹ for ETC and TC and 15 and 5 μg l⁻¹ for MIN and DC, respectively. The recovery values ranged between 66.4% and 117.1%, and intraday and interday repeatability was lower than 6.8%. The method was successfully used to determine the presence of the above-mentioned TCs in 24 wastewater composite samples obtained from hospital effluents and from influent and effluent of the WWTP located in Coimbra, Portugal. MIN and TC were found in 41.7% of the samples; ETC and DC were found in 25% and 8.3% of the samples, respectively. The levels found ranged from 6 to 531.7 μg l⁻¹ in hospital effluents, while its concentrations in WWTP ranged from 95.8 to 915.3 μg l⁻¹. A seasonal influence in the concentrations found has also been observed, the levels found in samples collected during spring being higher than those observed in samples collected during autumn; however, these are only preliminary results. The WWTP removal rate ranged between 89.5% and 100%.     

Determination of tetracyclines in food samples by molecularly imprinted monolithic column coupling with high performance liquid chromatography

A novel solid phase extraction (SPE) method for determination of tetracyclines (TCs) in milk and honey samples by molecularly imprinted monolithic column was developed. Using tetracycline (TC) as the template, methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker, methanol as the solvent, cyclohexanol and dodecanol as the mixed porogenic solvents, a TC imprinted monolithic column was prepared by in situ molecular imprinting technique for the first time, and the optimal synthesis conditions and the selectivity of TC imprinted monolithic column were investigated. The interfering substances in food samples and TCs can be separated successfully on imprinted column. Molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE) coupling with C18 column was used to determinate the TCs in milk and honey. The recoveries of this method for six tetracyclines antibiotics such as tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), minocycline (MINO), chlortetracycline (CTC), metacycline (MTC) and doxycycline (DTC) were investigated, and high recoveries of 73.3-90.6% from milk samples and 62.6-82.3% from honey samples were obtained. A method for determination of TCs at low concentration level in milk and honey samples was successfully developed by using the monolithic column as the precolumn for solid phase extraction of six TCs compounds.     

离子液体[Bmim]PF_6溶剂浮选分离富集-光度法测定环境中痕量四环素类抗生素的研究

建立了离子液体溶剂浮选四环素类(TCs)抗生素的新方法。以1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑六氟磷酸盐([Bmim]PF6)和乙酸乙酯(EA)的混合溶剂(V/V=1)为浮选剂,以Al(Ⅲ)为捕集剂,在pH=6.7条件下,分离富集环境水样中四环素(TC)、土霉素(OTC)、金霉素(CTC)三种四环素类抗生素,并用紫外-可见分光光度法测定总含量。方法线性范围为0.2~10.3μg.mL-1,表观摩尔吸光系数3ε80=3.8×105L.mol-1.cm-1,加标回收率达到94.5%~102.2%,相对标准偏差RSD3.76%(n=5)。该方法适合于环境水样中痕量TC、OTC、CTC抗生素总含量的分离分析。     

Development and validation of an HPLC confirmatory method for the determination of tetracycline antibiotics residues in bovine muscle according to the European Union regulation 2002/657/EC

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with diode-array detection, at 351 nm, was developed and validated for the determination of five tetracyclines (TCs): minocycline, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline in bovine muscle. Samples were macerated with a buffer solution, centrifuged, and purified using Abselut Nexus SPE cartridges. The separation of the examined TCs was achieved on an Inertsil ODS-3 5 microm, 250 x 4 mm analytical column, at ambient temperature. A multistep gradient elution was followed using 0.05 M oxalic acid and CH3CN, at a flow rate of 1.65 mL/min. The procedure was validated according to the European Union regulation 2002/657/EC determining selectivity, stability, decision limit, detection capability, accuracy, and precision. The results of the validation process demonstrate that the method can be readily applied to European Union statutory veterinary drug residue surveillance programmes. Mean recoveries of TCs from bovine muscle samples spiked at three concentrations (100, 250, and 400 ng/g) were in the range of 98.7-103.3%. Method's LOQ values achieved were 40 microg/kg for MNC, CTC, and DC and 25 microg/kg for OTC and TC. The decision limits (CCalpha) were in the range of 104.7-109.8 microg/kg, while the detection capability (CCbeta) was in the range of 108.4-116.7 microg/kg for all compounds.     

Ion chromatographic analysis of tetracyclines using polymeric column and acidic eluent

High-performance ion chromatography (HPIC) is first successfully used to analyze tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) in this work. The TCs are well separated on a solvent compatible polymeric cation-exchange column within 12 min. Isocratic elution with acetonitrile-hydrochloride is very advantageous for routine analysis. HPIC may be seen as a specific variant of the more common high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for water-soluble and polar pharmaceuticals with low hydrophobicity. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio=3:1) of oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC), doxycycline (DC) are 10, 10, 20 and 20 microg l(-1), respectively. Samples are prepared by vortex mixing with an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (Na2EDTA)-McIlvaine buffer (pH 4.0) solution and the mixture filtrates through a molecular weight cut-off filter. The method has been successfully applied to monitor the OTC removal rate through every reactor in the process of OTC manufacturing wastewater treatment by bio-chemical technology. It is also applicable to determine the TCs residues in milk and milk powder with satisfying results.     

Simultaneous extraction of tetracycline, macrolide and sulfonamide antibiotics from agricultural soils using pressurised liquid extraction, followed by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The veterinary antibacterial agents chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), sulfadiazine (SDZ), erythromycin (ERY) and tylosin (TYL A, B, C and D) were extracted from soil using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). Citric acid (pH 4.7) and methanol was used as extraction buffer, followed by tandem-solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up (SAX + HLB) for all compounds. For quantification two slightly different methods were employed using LC-MS-MS with MRM detection. The soil extraction method was validated using a loamy sand soil and a sandy soil, representing two typical Danish agricultural soils. Recoveries were 50-80% for the tetracyclines (CTC and OTC) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) and 60-100% for the macrolides (TYL and ERY). Limits of detection for the soil extraction method (LOD(soil)) were 0.6-5.6 microg kg(-1) soil for CTC and OTC, 0.9-2.9 microg kg(-1) soil for SDZ and 2.4-5.5 microg kg(-1) soil for TYL A and ERY. Furthermore, the method was applied to field samples taken from two agricultural fields fertilised with liquid manure containing CTC and TYL A. These results showed a decline in the content of antibacterial agents throughout the sampling period of 155 days from 10 to 15 microg CTC kg(-1) soil and 20-55 microg TYL A kg(-1) soil to below or near the LOD(soil) listed above. Finally, the method was applied to barley grains harvested from the fields. None of the antibacterial agents were measured in grain samples, but recoveries for spiked grain samples were similar to soil recoveries.     

Combining stir bar sorptive extraction and MEKC for the determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental and biological matrices

In this work, stir bar sorptive extraction and liquid desorption was combined with MEKC and diode-array detection (SBSE-LD-MEKC-DAD) for the determination of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aqueous medium, using biphenyl, fluorene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene as model compounds. MEKC-DAD conditions and parameters affecting SBSE-LD efficiency are fully discussed. Assays performed on aqueous samples spiked at trace levels, yielded recoveries ranging from 55.5 +/- 6.1% (pyrene) to 70.7 +/- 7.1% (anthracene), under optimized experimental conditions. The methodology proved to be nearly described by the octanol-water partition coefficients (K(PDMS/W) approximately K(O/W)). The analytical performance showed good precision (<12.0%), suitable detection limits (2-11 microg/L) and convenient linear dynamic ranges (r(2)>0.99) from 5 to 25 microg/L for anthracene and 25 to 125 microg/L for the remaining compounds. The application of the proposed methodology to environmental water, sediments and fish bile matrices demonstrated good selectivity and accuracy. SBSE-LD combined with MEKC-DAD was shown to be an easy, reliable and robustness methodology, as well as a good analytical alternative to monitor environmental priority pollutants.     

Solid-phase extraction-high-performance liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry for analysis of trace concentrations of macrolide antibiotics in natural and waste water matrices

A method using solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) has been developed for determination of trace concentrations of erythromycin-H2O (ETM-H2O), roxithromycin (RTM) and tylosin (TLS) in natural and waste water matrices. These macrolides (MLs) were extracted from water samples using Oasis HLB cartridges, and the average recovery was 93.6 +/- 8.6, 92.1 +/- 10.0, and 94.3 +/- 8.9% for ETM-H2O, RTM and TLS in surface water, respectively. For water from the influent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), the average recovery was 84.8 +/- 14.0, 83.2 +/- 13.1, and 86.1 +/- 13.4% for ETM-H2O, RTM and TLS, respectively. Method detection limits in a natural water matrices were 0.07, 0.03, and 0.05 microg/l for ETM-H2O, RTM, and TLS, respectively. Fragment or product ions from MS spectra using in-source collision-induced dissociation and MS-MS spectra have been identified. The accuracy and day-to-day variation of the method fell within acceptable ranges. The method was evaluated by studying the occurrence of the three macrolides on a river and a WWTP in northern Colorado. None of the antibiotics were detected in the stream except immediately downstream of a WWTP, a result consistent with their presence in the influent and effluent of the treatment facility.     

Survey of residual tetracycline antibiotics and sulfa drugs in kidneys of diseased animals in the Aichi Prefecture,Japan (1995-1999)

Animal kidneys were collected in order to survey the incidence of tetracycline (TC) antibiotics and sulfa (SA) drug residues in slaughtered animals that did not pass inspection for human consumption by the Japanese Food Sanitation Law and the Meat Inspection Law at the slaughterhouses in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, from April 1995 to March 2000. The kidneys were analyzed by AOAC Official Method 995.09 for TCs and our previously reported liquid chromatographic method for SAs. Among 292 animals (94 cattle and 198 pigs), 106 (36.6%) and 41 (14.0%) contained TCs and SAs, respectively, including chlortetracycline, 59 (20.2%); oxytetracycline, 47 (16.1%); sulfamonomethoxine, 35 (12.0%); sulfadimethoxine and sulfamethoxazole, each 2 (0.7%); and sulfamerazine and sulfisoxazole, each 1 (0.3%). A small number of animals (5 cattle and 9 pigs) contained more than one drug residue. The frequency of residue detections was significantly higher for TCs than SAs in both cattle and pig kidneys (p < 0.001).     

Improvement of chemical analysis of antibiotics. VIII. Application of prepacked C18 cartridge for the analysis of tetracycline residues in animal liver

A simple, rapid and precise analytical method for tetracycline (TC) residues in the liver of slaughtered animals has been established. The recoveries of oxytetracycline (OTC), TC, chlortetracycline (CTC) and doxycycline (DC) from beef liver spiked at the level of 1.0 ppm were 87.7, 87.5, 79.6 and 67.5% with coefficients of variations of 1.01-2.87%. Detection limits in beef liver were 0.05 and 0.1 ppm for OTC and TC and for CTC and DC, respectively. It is also possible to apply this method to the analysis of residual TCs in various foods with the same recovery, accuracy and detection limits as in the case of beef liver.