Development of multiple monolithic fiber solid‐phase microextraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the sensitive monitoring of aminoglycosides in honey and milk samples

A simple and sensitive method for the simultaneous extraction and determination of six aminoglycosides in honey and milk samples was developed using multiple monolithic fiber solid‐phase microextraction and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The multiple monolithic fibers based on poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐ethylenedimethacrylate) monolith as the extraction medium was used to concentrate target analytes. Because there were abundant carboxyl groups in the monolith, the monolithic fibers could extract aminoglycosides effectively through cation‐exchange and hydrophobic interactions. To obtain optimum extraction performance, several extraction parameters including desorption solvent, adsorption and desorption time, pH value and ionic strength in sample matrix, were investigated in detail. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the limits of detection of the proposed method were 0.10–0.30 and 0.23–0.59 μg/kg for honey and milk samples, respectively. Satisfactory linearity was achieved for analytes with the coefficients of determination above 0.99. At the same time, the developed method showed acceptable method repeatability and reproducibility. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of aminoglycosides in real honey and milk samples. Recoveries obtained for the determination of six target analytes in spiking samples ranged from 67.9 to 110%, and the relative standard deviations were in the range of 1.2–11%.     

Sensitive monitoring of penicillin antibiotics in milk and honey treated by stir bar sorptive extraction based on monolith and LC‐electrospray MS detection

In the present study, a convenient and sensitive method for determination of six penicillin antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G, oxacillin, cloxacillin, and dicloxacillin) in milk and honey samples was developed. Milk and honey samples were diluted with water, then directly treated by stir bar sorptive extraction based on poly (vinylimidazole‐divinylbenzene) monolithic material as coating. The analytes were analyzed by LC/ESI‐ MS/MS. Several extraction parameters including extraction and desorption time, pH value, and ionic strength in sample matrix were investigated in detail. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the calculated detection limits for the target compounds were as low as 0.23–2.66 ng/kg in milk and 0.18–1.42 ng/kg in honey, respectively. Good linearity was obtained for analytes with the correlation coefficients (R²) above 0.997. Excellent method reproducibility was achieved in terms of intraday and interday precisions, indicated by the RSDs of <5.0 and <10.0%, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of penicillin antibiotics residues in different milk and honey samples.     

Solid-phase extraction procedure for determination of phenolic acids and some flavonols in honey

The solid-phase extraction procedure (SPE) for isolation and preconcentration of phenolic acids (gallic, p-HBA, p-coumaric, vanillic, caffeic and syringic acid) and some flavonols (rutin, quercetin and kaempferol) from honey samples prior to their determination by HPLC is reported. Different solid sorbents such as Bond Elut octadecyl C(18), Oasis HLB, Strata-X and Amberlite XAD-2 were tested for this purpose. The best results were obtain when aqueous solution of honey (100 mL) was adjusted to pH 2 and passed through the microcolumn containing 2.5 g of Oasis HB followed by washing the sorbent with 50 mL of acidified water (pH 2). The analytes were then eluted with methanol. The proposed method permits the quantification of the studied compounds with the limit of detections ranged from 25 ng kg(-1) to 0.75 microg kg(-1) for p-HBA and quercetin, respectively. The precision of the overall analytical procedure was estimated by measuring the within-day repeatability and the relative standard deviations of the parallel (n=3) results were in the range of 1.9-10.1%. The method was tested for real honey samples from different botanical origins.     

Trace analysis of tiamulin in honey by liquid chromatography-diode array-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection

A liquid chromatography with diode array or electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry detection (LC-DAD-ESI-MS) method for the determination of tiamulin residues in honey is presented. The procedure employs a solid-phase extraction (SPE) on polymeric cartridges for the isolation of tiamulin from honey samples diluted in aqueous solution of tartaric acid. Chromatographic separation of the tiamulin is performed, in isocratic mode, on a C18 column using methanol and ammonium carbonate 0.1% in water, in proportion (30:70, v/v). Average analyte recoveries were from 88 to 106% in replica sets of fortified honey samples. The LC-ESI-MS method detection limits differ from 0.5 microg kg(-1) for clear honeys to 1.2 microg kg(-1) for dark honeys. The developed method has been applied to the analysis of tiamulin residues in multifloral honey samples collected from veterinary treated beehives.     

Vortex-assisted surfactant-enhanced-emulsification liquid-liquid microextraction

A novel sample pre-treatment technique, based on vortex-assisted surfactant-enhanced-emulsification liquid-liquid microextraction (VSLLME), followed by gas chromatography-flame photometric detection (GC-FPD) has been developed for the determination of seven organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in wine and honey samples. In the VSLLME method, the extraction solvent was dispersed into the aqueous samples by the assistance of vortex agitator. Meanwhile, the addition of a surfactant, which was used as an emulsifier, could enhance the speed of the mass-transfer from aqueous samples to the extraction solvent. The main parameters relevant to this method were investigated and the optimum conditions were established: 15 μL chlorobenzene was used as extraction solvent, 0.2 mmol L(-1) Triton X-114 was selected as the surfactant, the extraction time was fixed at 30s, 3% sodium chloride was added and the extraction process was performed under the room temperature. Under the optimum conditions, limits of detections (LODs) were varied between 0.01 and 0.05 μg L(-1). The relative standard deviation (RSD, n=6) ranged from 2.3% and 8.9%. The linearity was obtained by five points in the concentration range of 0.1-50.0 μg L(-1). Correlation coefficients (r) varied from 0.9969 to 0.9991. The enrichment factors (EFs) were in a range of 282-309. Finally, the proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of target analytes in real samples. The recoveries of the target analytes in wine and honey samples were between 81.2% and 108.0%.     

The determination of sulfonamides in honey by high performance liquid chromatography--mass spectrometry method (LC/MS)

The sulfonamides (SAs) are stable chemotherapeutics used against the bacterial disease affecting bees, known as American foulbrood (Bacillus larvae), so their residues could appear in the honey of treated bees. Their presence at a concentration above the limit value could be a potential danger to human health. Therefore, a simple, rapid, and reliable method for determination of 11 available SAs in honey was optimized. The samples were homogenized and cleaned with extraction on solid phase by means of Chromabond C18 end-capped cartridge followed by LC/MS analyses. A detection limit of 25 microg/kg was achieved for all analytes. The repeatability of the method was proven and the optimal parameters for temperature and pH of the mobile phase and acetic buffer, respectively, were determined. In this study, 20 samples of domestic honey were included. Six of the analyzed samples were positive, but all results were below the Croatian permissible limit value (100 microg/kg).     

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography for extraction and determination of class 1 residual solvents in pharmaceuticals

The present study reports a new method for analyzing class 1 residual solvents (RSs), 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE), 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCE), carbon tetrachloride (CT), and benzene (Bz), in pharmaceutical products using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Unlike common DLLME methods, solvents of high boiling point were selected as dispersive and extraction solvents in order to prevent their chromatographic peaks from overlapping with those of analytes that have short retention times. Therefore N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and 1,2-dibromoethane (1,2-DBE) were chosen as dispersive and extraction solvents, respectively. Analytical parameters of the proposed method were determined and good linearities and broad linear ranges (LRs) were obtained. Taking 500 mg samples, limit of detections for the tested pharmaceuticals were obtained as 0.11, 0.03, 0.05, 0.05, and 0.006 μg g(-1) for CT, 1,1-DCE, 1,2-DCE, 1,1,1-TCE, and Bz, respectively, which are considerably much lower than their permissible limits in pharmaceuticals.     

Determination of aldehydes in drinking water using pentafluorobenzylhydroxylamine derivatization and solid-phase microextraction

A headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) procedure followed by gas chromatography and electron capture detection (GC-ECD) has been developed for the determination of aldehydes in drinking water samples at microg/l concentrations. A previous derivatization with o-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) was performed due to the high polarity and instability of these ozonation by-products. Several SPME coatings were tested and the divinylbenzene-polydimethylsiloxane (DVB-PDMS) coating in being the most suitable for the determination of these analytes. Experimental SPME parameters such as selection of coating, sample volume, addition of salt, extraction time and temperature of desorption were studied. Analytical parameters such as precision, linearity and detection limits were also determined. HS-SPME was compared to liquid-liquid microextraction (proposed in US Environmental Protection Agency Method 556) by analyzing spiked water samples; a good agreement between results obtained with both techniques was observed. Finally, aldehydes formed at the Barcelona water treatment plant (N.E. Spain) were determined at levels of 0.1-0.5 microg/l. As a conclusion, HS-SPME is a powerful tool for determining ozonation by-products in treated water.     

Simultaneous determination of seventeen glucocorticoids residues in milk and eggs by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

A comprehensive analytical method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of seventeen glucocorticoid residues in eggs and milk. The mass spectrometer parameters, the composition of the mobile phase and the sample preparation method were firstly optimized to obtain maximum sensitivity. The samples were deconjugated with beta-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase enzyme and concentrated using an Oasis HLB solid-phase extraction cartridge, followed by cleanup with a dual Sep-pak silica and aminopropyl cartridge. The analytes were quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (using a C18 column)/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-MS/MS) operating in the negative ion mode. The assay for the 17 glucocorticoids was linear over the range of 1-200 microg/L for milk and egg samples with a high correlation coefficient (>0.99). The limits of quantification (LOQs) for the target analytes were 0.04-1.27 microg/kg for the egg samples and 0.03-0.73 microg/kg for the milk samples. The average extraction recoveries of the glucocorticoids from eggs and milk at two concentration levels (spiked at 0.40 and 2.00 microg/kg) were 65.6-118.7% and 61.5-119.6%, respectively, with relative standard deviations between 1.8-17.0% and 2.4-18.4%, respectively. Because of its high sensitivity, good precision and specificity, the method was found to be suitable for trace analysis of synthetic and natural glucocorticoids in complex biosamples such as eggs and milk.     

Application of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in watermelon and cucumber

In this article, a new method for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in cucumber and watermelon was developed by using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and gas chromatography-flame photometric detection (GC-FPD). Acetonitrile (MeCN) was used as extraction solvent for the extraction of OPPs from plant samples. When the extraction process was finished, the target analytes in the extraction solvent were rapidly transferred from the MeCN extract to another small volume of organic solvent, chlorobenzene, using DLLME. Recovery tests were performed for concentrations between 0.5 and 20 microg/kg; recoveries for each target analyte were in the range between 67 and 111%. The repeatability of the proposed method, expressed as relative standard deviation, varied between 2 and 9% (n=3). Limits of detection of the method for watermelon and cucumber were found ranging from 0.010 to 0.190 microg/kg for all the target pesticides. Compared with the conventional sample preparation method, the proposed method has the advantage of being quick and easy to operate, and having high-enrichment factors and low consumption of organic solvent.     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定食品中多杀菌素A和D的残留量

建立了食品中多杀菌素(spinosyn) A和D残留的液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)检测方法。甘蓝等食品样品经乙腈-水(50:50, v/v)提取、HLB固相萃取柱净化后,采用HPLC-MS/MS进行检测分析,利用外标法定量。质谱分析采用电喷雾电离,正离子扫描,多反应监测模式。结果表明,柱净化后无明显的基质效应,多杀菌素在1～20 μg/L内具有较好的线性关系,其相关系数可达0.9999;样品中添加1～10 μg/kg的多杀菌素,其回收率为76.2%～114.0%,相对标准偏差(n=10)小于10%;检出限(信噪比（S/N）=3): 多杀菌素A为0.2 μg/kg,多杀菌素D为0.5 μg/kg;定量限(S/N=10): 多杀菌素A为0.5 μg/kg,多杀菌素D为1.0 μg/kg。在最佳实验条件下,对来自福建厦门的969份食品样品进行了检测,其中15份样品检测结果呈阳性。实验结果表明,该方法提取效果好,具有良好的灵敏度、回收率和重复性。     

Optimization of the headspace solid-phase microextraction for determination of glycol ethers by orthogonal array designs

A headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), in conjunction with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection for use in the determination of six frequently used glycol ethers at the microg/l level is described. A 75 microm Carboxenpolydimethylsiloxane fiber was used to extract the analytes from an aqueous solution. Experimental HS-SPME parameters such as extraction temperature, extraction time, salt concentration and sample volume, were investigated and optimized by orthogonal array experimental designs. The relative standard deviations for the reproducibility of the optimized HS-SPME method varied from 1.48 to 7.59%. The correlation coefficients of the calibration curves exceeded 0.998 in the microg/l range of concentration with at least two orders of magnitude. The method detection limits for glycol ethers in deionized water were in the range of 0.26 to 3.42 microg/l. The optimized method was also applied to the analysis of glycol ethers in urine and blood samples with the method detection limits ranged from 1.74 to 23.2 microg/l.     

Analysis of nicotinoid insecticides residues in honey by solid matrix partition clean-up and liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry

An analytical method for the routine simultaneous determination of four nicotinoid insecticides (acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam) in commercial multifloral honey was developed. Fortified honey samples, dissolved in water, were cleaned up through Extrelut NT20 column and, finally, insecticides were eluted with dichloromethane. The eluate was evaporated, the residue redissolved in methanol and then analyzed by LC-ESI(+)-MS. Average recoveries of the four analytes were in the range of 76% and 99% at both spiking levels 0.1 and 1.0 mg kg(-1). Relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 10% for all of the recovery tests. The detection limits (LODs) of the method ranged from 0.01 to 0.1 mg kg(-1) for the different insecticides studied. The developed method is linear over the range assayed, 0.5-5.0 microg mL(-1), with linear correlation coefficients higher than 0.9993.     

Simultaneous determination of simazine,cyanazine, and atrazine in honey samples by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography

A rapid and simple sample preparation method was developed for simultaneous determination of three triazine herbicides in honey samples. The selected herbicides were extracted from honey samples by ionic liquid dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, separated on a C₁₈ column (250 mm × 4.6 mm id, 5 μm) using acetonitrile and H₂O as the mobile phase with gradient elution, and then detected by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The parameters, such as the type and volume of the extraction and disperser solvent, ion strength, pH, extraction time, and centrifuge time were optimized in order to provide the excellent extraction performance. Good linearity was showed for all the target herbicides over the tested concentration range with correlation coefficient higher than 0.994. Three spiked levels (0.005, 0.05, 0.10 mg/kg) were applied for determination of the recoveries of the targets in honey samples in the range of 80–103% with relative standard deviations not larger than 10.6%. The limits of quantification for the analytes ranged between 1.5 and 4.0 μg/kg. The developed method was applied for determination of the target compounds residues in real samples.     

Cigarette filter as sorbent for on-line coupling of solid-phase extraction to high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

An on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) protocol using the cigarette filter as sorbent coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for simultaneous determination of trace naphthalene (NAPH), phenanthrene (PHEN), anthracene (ANT), fluoranthene (FLU), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), and benzo(ghi)perylene (BghiP) in water samples. To on-line interface solid-phase extraction to HPLC, a preconcentration column packed with the cigarette filter was used to replace a conventional sample loop on the injector valve of the HPLC for on-line solid-phase extraction. The sample solution was loaded and the analytes were then preconcentrated onto the preconcentration column. The collected analytes were subsequently eluted with a mobile phase of methanol-water (95:5). HPLC with a photodiode array detector was used for their separation and detection. The detection limits (S/N = 3) for preconcentrating 42 mL of sample solution ranged from 0.9 to 58.6 ng L(-1) at a sample throughput of 2 samples h(-1). The enhancement factors were in the range of 409-1710. The developed method was applied to the determination of trace NAPH, PHEN, ANT, FLU, BbF, BkF, BaP and BghiP in local river water samples. The recoveries of PAHs spiked in real water samples ranged from 87 to 115%. The precisions for nine replicate measurements of a standard mixture (NAPH: 4.0 microg L(-1), PHEN: 0.40 microg L(-1), ANT: 0.40 microg L(-1), FLU: 2.0 microg L(-1), BbF: 1.6 microg L(-1), BkF: 2.0 microg L(-1), BaP: 2.0 microg L(-1), BghiP: 1.7 microg L(-1)) were in the range of 1.2-5.1%.     

Determination of lincomycin and tylosin residues in honey by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid analytical method was developed for the determination of lincomycin and tylosin residues in honey as part of field studies examining the efficacy and target animal safety of these antibiotics to control American foulbrood disease in honey bees. Residues of the antibiotics were determined using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS). Honey samples were diluted and injected directly into the LC/MS/MS system without additional cleanup by solid-phase extraction or liquid-liquid partitioning. A six-port valve system was utilized to selectively route eluant from the LC column into the mass spectrometer only during a relatively short portion of the chromatographic run corresponding to the elution of the analytes of interest. Minimal contamination of the MS source chamber was observed despite the analysis of large numbers of samples. Using internal standard quantitation, excellent accuracy and precision were obtained with no apparent matrix-to-matrix variation. Based on the analysis of fortified replicates, the mean percent deviation from the theoretical concentration and the percent relative standard deviation were both less than 10% for tylosin over an analytical range of 10-1000 microg/kg. Slightly higher mean percent deviations and relative standard deviations were observed for the analysis of lincomycin in fortified replicate samples. The method detection limits were determined to be 5 and 2 microg/kg for lincomycin and tylosin, respectively.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法检测玩具中的3种异噻唑啉酮类防腐剂

建立了液相色谱-串联质谱快速测定玩具中异噻唑啉酮类防腐剂(2-甲基-4-异噻唑啉-3-酮、5-氯-2-甲基-4-异噻唑啉-3-酮和1,2-苯并异噻唑啉-3-酮)的分析方法。样品经去离子水超声提取后进行液相色谱-串联质谱分析。色谱流动相为甲醇-水(15:85, v/v),等度洗脱,在选择反应监测(SRM)模式下定性和定量分析。3种被分析物的工作曲线线性范围均为2.0～1 000 μg/L,方法的定量限(信噪比大于10)为0.04 mg/kg,灵敏度优于欧盟玩具协调标准EN71-11-2005中推荐的方法。两种类型玩具样品中的加标回收率分别为95.9%～105.2%和94.7%～102.8%,精密度分别为3.04%～4.96%和2.36%～4.79%。应用本方法对10种玩具样品进行了测试,结果完全能满足欧盟玩具协调标准EN71-9-2005对玩具中异噻唑啉酮类防腐剂的检测要求。     

Detection of streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin residues in milk,honey and meat samples using an optical biosensor

Immuno-biosensor inhibition assays for the detection of streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin residues in whole cows' milk, honey, pig kidney and pig muscle are reported. The antibody showed high cross-reactivity with dihydrostreptomycin in various foodstuffs (buffer 103%, milk 96%, honey 84%, kidney extract 129% and muscle extract 98%). There was no significant cross-reaction with other aminoglycosides or commonly used antibiotics. A streptomycin derivative was used to prepare a stable, reusable sensor chip surface. The assay allowed the direct analysis of bovine whole milk (fat content approximately 3.5%). Honey samples required dilution with buffer, while kidney and muscle samples from pigs were homogenized in an aqueous extraction buffer and clarified by centrifugation. The limit of detection for each assay was determined from known streptomycin-free samples (n = 20; mean - (3 x standard deviation)) and the results were as follows: milk 30 microg kg(-1), honey 15 microg kg(-1), kidney 50 microg kg(-1) and muscle 70 microg kg(-1). Repeatability (or relative standard deviation) between runs were calculated (n = 3) at the respective Community maximum residue limits (MRL) and 0.5 x MRL with the exception of honey since no European MRL exists at present. Results were determined as 4.3% (200 microg kg(-1)) and 2.8% (100 microg kg(-1)) in milk, 13.3% (40 microg kg(-1)) and 9.5% (20 microg kg(-1)) in honey, 7.1% (1000 microg kg(-1)) and 7.6% (500 microg kg(-1)) in kidney and 7.1% (500 microg kg(-1)) and 11% (250 microg kg(-1)) in muscle.     

Simultaneous determination of sorbic and benzoic acids in food dressing by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography

A facile headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) procedure using 85 microm polyacrylate (PA) fiber is presented for the simultaneous determination of preservatives (sorbic and benzoic acids) in food dressing, including Thousand Island Dressing, HellMANN'S Salad Dressing and Tomato Ketchup, by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detector (FID). The method presented preserves the advantages typical of HS-SPME such as simplicity, low intensity of labor, low cost and solvent free. The main factors affecting the HS-SPME process, such as extraction temperature and time, desorption temperature and time, the acidity and salt concentration of the solution, were optimized. Limits of detection (LODs) of the method were 2.00 microg/L for sorbic acid and 1.22 microg/L for benzoic acid. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) for quintuplicate analyses at three concentration levels of 0.10, 2.0 and 20 mg/L ranged between 3.86 and 14.8%. The method also showed good linearity n a range from 0.02 to 40 mg/L with correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.9986 for sorbic acid and 0.9994 for benzoic acid. Recoveries for the two analytes in all the samples tested ranged from 83.44 to 113.2%. Practical applicability was demonstrated through the simultaneous determination of sorbic and benzoic acids in the three complex samples.     

Rapid determination of PAHs in soil samples by HPLC with fluorimetric detection following sonication extraction

A rapid method for the determination of PAHs in soil samples based on their extraction with methylene chloride by sonication and subsequent separation by HPLC with fluorimetric detection is proposed. A Hypersil Green PAH column was used with a gradient of acetonitrile/water as the mobile phase, together with a program of nine excitation and emission wavelength pairs. Recoveries were in the range 70-98%, except for acenaphthene and naphthalene, at concentration levels 1.08-442 microg/kg with relative standard deviations in the range 2-15% (n = 4). Total PAHs found in soil samples were in the range 15-282 microg/kg. The results were compared with those obtained by applying the 3540 EPA method for two samples.