GC-MS method development and validation for anabolic steroids in feed samples

A GC-MS method for the determination of AAS used as growth promoting agents using SIM in piglet feed samples has been developed and validated, using testosterone as internal standard. The formation of volatile steroid derivatives was carried out by derivatization with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. The optimum separation was achieved using a Zebron ZB-5 column under a gradient temperature elution, allowing the separation of steroids in 18 min. The required sample treatment process was discussed. A leaching using ACN, saponification using a binary NaOH/MgCl2 solution, and LLE using ethyl acetate were finally selected. Method validation has been carried out according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria established for quantitative confirmatory methods. The extraction efficiencies, CCalpha and CCbeta for these compounds were in the ranges 78-98%, 10-21 and 18-35 mug/kg, respectively. The repeatability and the within-laboratory reproducibility at 1, 1.5, and 2 CCbeta concentration levels were smaller than 8.2, 7.5, and 5.8% and 12.2, 9.5, and 7.5%, respectively. Accuracy was in the 99-103% range. The robustness was evaluated using the Youden robustness test. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of steroids spiked in different kinds of animal feed samples with satisfactory results.     

Comparison of the performance of different reversed-phase columns for liquid chromatography separation of 11 pollutant phenols

A systematic optimization of the HPLC separation of a mixture containing 11 pollutant phenols (PPs) using a Hypersil ODS (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) column and UV-DAD detection has been carried out. The binary mobile phases used were obtained by mixing 50 mM phosphate (pH = 3.0) and methanol, ACN, or THF as organic modifiers. After selecting ACN as an organic modifier, the effects of pH and temperature on PPs separation were studied. A mobile phase of 50 mM acetate (pH = 5.0)-ACN (60:40 v/v) at 50 degrees C allowed the separation of 11 phenols but not to baseline in 17 min. To improve the performance of this separation, the following RP columns were tested: Luna C18 (2), Purospher C18, Synergi C12, Synergi Fusion C18, Gemini C18, Luna Cyano, Lichrospher C8, and Envirosep-PP (polymeric). In all the cases, the performance (analysis time, retention, selectivity, resolution, asymmetry factors, and efficiency) was evaluated. A further reoptimization of the mobile phase was carried out for all the columns by studying the ACN content and pH, with the aim of improving the above-mentioned separations and selecting the most suitable one for PPs analysis.     

Determination of mercury in the presence of chloride by means of the ternary complex Hg(II)/xylenol orange/amberlite La-2 in non-aqueous media

The system Hg(II)/Xylenol Orange/Amberlite LA-2 dissolved in 1:1 v v 3-methylbutan-1-ol/chloroform medium has been studied. A 3:2:2 complex is formed, which is suitable for analytical measurements at temperatures <18 degrees . This complex allows the determination of mercury in the range 0.19-5.5 ppm with a molar absorptivity of 2.12 x 10(4).mole(-1).cm(-1) at 600 nm and extraction pH of 7.4 (standard deviation 0.065 ppm). The proposed method has been applied to the determination of mercury in contaminated water with a high chloride content.     

A liquid chromatography method using a monolithic column for the determination of corticoids in animal feed and animal feeding water

An HPLC-DAD method for determining corticoids in calf feed and in animal feeding water samples using a monolithic column has been developed and validated. The method optimization included the study of binary mobile phases of water and acetonitrile. The optimum separation was achieved at 40 °C, with acetonitrile:H₂O 29:71 v/v used as mobile phase and a 3 ml/min flow-rate, which resulted in their separation in about 5 min. Two reported sample procedures were applied to feed and for animal feeding water samples prior to HPLC. Method validation was carried out according to the EU criteria established for quantitative screening methods. The results indicate that this method is highly specific, reproducible and accurate. The proposed method was found to be robust and unaffected by small variations in the extraction procedure and in HPLC conditions. The developed method for the determination of corticoids in feed and water samples was also found to be suitable for different kinds of feeds and waters.     

Sample preparation for the determination of steroids (corticoids and anabolics) in feed using LC

An improved sample preparation procedure for the determination of 17 steroids (corticoids (CC) and androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS)), used potentially as growth promoters, in feed samples has been developed. This procedure is based on two reported LC-UV methods. The improved procedure includes a leaching process using ACN, saponification, and SPE using polymeric cartridges. The proposed method was validated according to the EU criteria established for quantitative screening methods in PFS. The extraction efficiencies, decision limits (CCalpha) and detection capabilities (CCbeta), for these compounds were in the ranges of 82-100%, 19-40, and 24-53 microg/kg, respectively. The repeatability and the within-laboratory reproducibility at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 CCbeta levels were smaller than 10%. Accuracy was in the 97-101% range. The robustness was evaluated using the Youden robustness test. This method was applied to the analysis of steroids in different kinds of FS with satisfactory results.     

Method development and validation for melamine and its derivatives in rice concentrates by liquid chromatography. Application to animal feed samples

An isocratic LC method for the determination of melamine and its degradation products (ammelide, ammeline, and cyanuric acid), used to increase the apparent protein content of rice protein concentrate, has been developed. Method development involved optimization of different RP columns, aqueous mobile phases, pH, phosphate concentration, and temperature. The optimum separation of these compounds was achieved using a Luna CN column (30 °C), 5 mmol L⁻¹ sodium phosphate (pH 5.0) as mobile phase, 1 mL min⁻¹ flow-rate, UV absorbance-DAD detection at 220 nm, and resorcine as internal standard; this enabled separation of these compounds with baseline resolution (values in the 2.1–10.1 range) in about 8 min. Prior to HPLC, the developed sample preparation procedure consisted in a leaching process using the above mentioned mobile phase. Method validation was carried out in rice protein concentrates in accordance with the European Commission decision 2002/657/EC criteria. For this purpose, eight mandatory performance characteristics for the conventional validation approach were determined: calibration graphs, extraction efficiencies, decision limits, detection capabilities, precision (repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility), accuracy, selectivity, and robustness. The extraction efficiencies for these compounds were in the range 99–100% and the within-laboratory reproducibility at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 detection capabilities concentration levels were smaller than 5, 4, and 3%, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of other rice protein concentrates and several animal feed samples.     

The influence of water-soluble alcohols on the Hg(II) and xylenol orange complexing reaction

The Hg(II)/xylenol orange (XO) complex has been studied in the presence of the watersoluble alcohols methanol, ethanol, propanol, iso-propanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol. Only one binary complex Hg(II)/XO = 1:2 is formed in a HCit-Na₂HPO₄ pH 6.6–6.8 buffer in a 25% EtOH medium. Hg(II) can be determined (0.16–3.0 ppm) with a molar absorptivity of 3.2 × 10⁴ liter mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹.A reaction mechanism of chelation is suggested according to the experimental results. The proposed model is based on the assumption of a 1:11 intramolecular sigmatropics process allowed by the orbital symmetry, followed by an ion association with the cationic species of the solution. The constants of the reaction have been calculated and the study of the interferences and the role of strong electrolytes carried out.     

Spectrophotometric determination of chromium(VI) through ion-pair formation with phenylfluorone

Two successive outer sphere complexes with mole ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 are formed between chromium(VI) and phenylfluorone at pH 1.5 in 40% ethanol. These have absorption maxima at 490 and 470 nm, respectively. The 1:1 complex obeys Beer's law at 500 nm (? = 2.1 × 10⁴ 1 mol^-1 cm^-1) in the range 13–1700 ng l^-1 chromium(VI).