Development and evaluation of analytical methodology for the determination of aflatoxins in palm kernels.

A rapid, simple and reproducible method for the simultaneous estimation of aflatoxins AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 in palm kernel samples has been developed by optimizing the sample preparation, solvent extraction, sample clean-up and quantification procedures. The aflatoxins are extracted from a slurried palm kernel sample with an acetone-water (80 + 20, v/v) mixture and the crude extract is cleaned up by solid-phase extraction using a phenyl bonded phase cartridge. The extract is passed through the cartridge with a water-methanol (93 + 7) mixture. Subsequent elution of the aflatoxins retained on the cartridge is achieved with a 3 ml aliquot of chloroform. The aflatoxin content of the eluate is quantified using a bi-directional high-performance thin-layer chromatography procedure. A critical evaluation of the proposed method was carried out by statistical comparison with the British Standard Method. The proposed procedure was shown to be more efficient and precise. Consistent recoveries of over 90% were achieved from spiked palm kernel extracts and detection limits were found to be 3.7, 2.5, 3.0 and 1.3 micrograms kg-1 for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 aflatoxins, respectively.     

QuEChERS-液相色谱-串联质谱法测定棕榈原油中敌草快等6种农药残留

建立了QuEChERS-液相色谱-串联质谱同时测定棕榈原油中敌草快、乐果、倍硫磷、倍硫磷亚砜、倍硫磷砜、氟吡甲禾灵残留量的方法。以回收率及基质效应为考察指标,评估了乙二胺-N-丙基硅烷(PSA)/C18混合物、C18键合锆胶(Z-Sep+)/C18混合物、Z-Sep+、C18 4种分散吸附剂的净化效果,结果表明Z-Sep+/C18的净化效果最佳。样品采用含1%(v/v)乙酸的甲醇溶液提取,Z-Sep+/C18分散固相萃取净化;液相色谱以Atlantis T3色谱柱梯度洗脱分离,质谱分析采用电喷雾正离子电离、多反应监测模式,以基质匹配校准曲线外标法进行定量。6种农药在3个添加水平(10、20、250 μg/kg)下的回收率范围为70.0%~97.9%,相对标准偏差范围为2.6%~10.2%; 6种农药的定量限(S/N≥10)为0.1~2.5 μg/kg。该方法简便、灵敏、准确、环保,适用于棕榈原油中上述6种农药残留的定性、定量分析。     

QuEChERS-液相色谱-串联质谱法测定甜玉米及毛豆中32种磺酰脲类除草剂残留

建立了基于QuEChERS方法的液相色谱-串联质谱同时测定甜玉米及毛豆中32种磺酰脲类除草剂残留的方法。以提取液净化前后蒸发残渣质量及回收率为考察指标,评估了C18、氧化锆包覆硅胶(Z-Sep)/C18混合物、C18键合锆胶(Z-Sep+) 3种分散吸附剂对甜玉米的净化效果,结果Z-Sep/C18吸附剂的净化效果最佳。样品采用乙腈提取、无水硫酸镁及氯化钠盐析、Z-Sep/C18分散固相萃取净化;液相色谱以CSH C18色谱柱梯度洗脱分离,质谱分析采用电喷雾负离子电离、按时间表的多反应监测模式(Scheduled MRM),以基质匹配校准曲线外标法进行定量。32种农药在甜玉米及毛豆中3个添加水平(10、20、100 μg/kg)的回收率为80.0%~108.2%,相对标准偏差为1.2%~13.0%, 32种农药的定量限(S/N≥10)为0.2~5.0 μg/kg。方法简便、灵敏、环保,适用于甜玉米及毛豆中32种磺酰类除草剂残留的定性定量分析。     

全自动免疫亲和在线净化/高效液相色谱法快速高通量测定饲料中黄曲霉毒素

建立了全自动免疫亲和在线净化/高效液相色谱快速高通量测定饲料中黄曲霉毒素(Aflatoxins,AFT)的分析方法。饲料样品经乙腈-水(80∶20,体积比)提取,3 g/L Triton X-100水溶液10倍稀释后,用自动进样器注入RIDACREST在线固相萃取系统并流经黄曲霉毒素免疫亲和小柱,以甲醇-水(45∶55,体积比)为流动相,流速为1.0 m L/min,C18色谱柱(150 mm×3.5 mm,5μm)分离,光化学衍生,荧光检测器测定。根据3倍信噪比的峰响应值,确定黄曲霉毒素B1,B2,G1,G2的检出限分别为0.08,0.05,0.18,0.08μg/kg,分别在1~100,0.24~24,0.56~56,0.24~24μg/kg范围内呈线性相关,相关系数(r2)分别为0.999 4,0.999 7,0.999 8和0.999 8;AFT在猪饲料、鸡饲料、宠物饲料和饲料原料4类样品中的加标回收率为72.6%~103%,相对标准偏差为2.5%~4.9%。该方法一次装柱可检测60个样品,液相色谱分析一个样品总的运行时间为15 min,所以1 d可检测70~80个样品,满足饲料中黄曲霉毒素快速高通量准确定量检测的需要。     

Supercritical fluid extraction and quantification of aflatoxins in Zizyphi Fructus by liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

An integrated method combining supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/APCI-MS/MS) was developed and successfully applied to quantify aflatoxins (AFs) in Zizyphi Fructus (fruits of Zizyphus jujube), a traditional Chinese medicine. To minimize the potential interferences caused by the complex matrix in Zizyphi Fructus, a SFE pretreatment was performed. In addition, electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) spectra were also compared. The results showed that the calibration curves of AFB(1), AFB(2), AFG(1), and AFG(2) were all linear over the range of concentration from 1 to 50 ng/g, the squared correlation coefficients (r(2)) were over 0.995, and the detection limits of the method were between 0.17 and 0.32 ng/g. It showed high recovery and good precision in quantitating AFs in Zizyphi Fructus without further clean-up. Further, fragmentation pathways of protonated AFs in APCI-MS/MS were clearly proposed which could predict the existence of AFB or AFG series. To test the empirical validity of the proposed methodology in this paper, eight random samples of Zizyphi Fructus collected from supermarkets and traditional Chinese medicine stores in different geographical areas of Taiwan were analyzed. The results indicated that low levels of AFs were detected in only one of them.     

Determination of aflatoxins in animal feeds by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with isotope dilution

The objective of the present study is to develop a simple, fast method for detection of aflatoxins in animal feeds. Simultaneous quantitation of four aflatoxins (AFB(1), AFB(2), AFG(1) and AFG(2)) in animal feeds was achieved in a single liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) run. The solid-phase extraction cleanup step is eliminated with the stable isotope dilution method. Matrix effects were observed and overcome by isotope dilution. The method was tested in a variety of animal feed matrices and proved to be accurate and reliable. Method ruggedness tests resulted in recoveries of 78% to 122% with an intra-day assay precision of 2% to 15% and an inter-day assay precision of 3% to 17%. These results indicate that this method is suitable for quantitation of aflatoxins in animal feeds.     

复合免疫亲和柱净化-液相色谱-串联质谱法测定动物源食品中6种黄曲霉毒素和6种玉米赤霉醇类真菌毒素残留量

建立了动物源食品(猪肉、鱼肉、猪肝)中6种黄曲霉毒素(AFB1、AFB2、AFG1、AFG2、AFM1和 AFM2)和6种玉米赤霉醇类真菌毒素(α-玉米赤霉醇、β-玉米赤霉醇、α-玉米赤霉烯醇、β-玉米赤霉烯醇、玉米赤霉酮和玉米赤霉烯酮)残留量的复合免疫亲和柱净化-高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/ MS)检测方法。样品经β-葡萄糖苷酸/硫酸酯复合酶酶解后,用甲醇-乙腈(20∶80, V/ V)提取,提取液经玻璃纤维滤纸过滤,滤液用PBS 溶液稀释,复合免疫亲和柱富集和净化后,采用 HPLC-MS/ MS 法分析。12种目标分析物中 AFB2和 AFG2的线性范围为0.03~6.0μg/ L,其余目标分析物的线性范围为0.05~20μg/ L,线性相关系数均大于0.999,检出限在0.01~0.03μg/ kg 范围内,定量限在0.04~0.09μg/ kg 范围内。分别以0.5,1.0和5.0μg/ kg 添加浓度水平进行方法学验证,平均回收率为73.6%~98.4%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.9%~11.2%。本方法简便、灵敏,能够满足动物源食品中痕量黄曲霉毒素和玉米赤霉醇类真菌毒素残留的测定要求。     

基于QuEChERS法提取液相色谱-串联质谱法测定新会陈皮中的9种真菌毒素和农药残留

建立了Qu ECh ERS-改性多壁碳纳米管提取净化结合液相色谱-质谱联用同时检测新会陈皮中6种真菌毒素和3种农药残留的分析方法,并对影响提取、净化、检测效率的因素进行了优化。以乙腈-水(80∶20)提取样品,适量改性多壁碳纳米管净化后,净化液直接用HPLC-MS/MS进行测定,选择多反应监测模式,基质匹配标准溶液外标法定量。在优化实验条件下,9种目标化合物在各自线性范围内均具有良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.983 8~0.998 2,检出限(S/N=3)为0.18~10μg/kg。在低、中、高3个加标水平的平均回收率为72.4%~106%,相对标准偏差为2.2%~7.4%。该法准确、灵敏度高﹑操作简单﹑快速,可满足新会陈皮中上述9种化合物同时测定的要求,应用于真菌毒素和农药残留的快速筛查和确证,结果满意。     

Analysis of aflatoxins in nonalcoholic beer using liquid–liquid extraction and ultraperformance LC‐MS/MS

Aflatoxins AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 are toxic secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus and posses a potential threat to food safety. In the present work, liquid–liquid extraction and ultraperformance LC‐MS/MS method has been applied for the determination of four naturally occurring aflatoxins AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 in nonalcoholic beer. Aflatoxins extraction from nonalcoholic beer was carried out using liquid–liquid extraction procedure. The effects of solvent‐types were studied to obtain maximum recovery of the target analytes with minimum contamination. Among different solvents, the aflatoxins extraction was best achieved using ethyl acetate. The obtained recoveries were ranged from 85 to 96% with good quality parameters: LOD values between 0.001 and 0.003 ng/mL, linearity of the calibration curve (r² > 0.999), and repeatability (run‐to‐run) and reproducibility (day‐to‐day) precisions with RSDs lower than 5% (n = 5) achieved at 0.50 ng/mL concentration. The optimized liquid–liquid extraction in combination with ultraperformance LC‐MS/MS was applied successfully to the analysis of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 aflatoxins in 11 nonalcoholic beers and were detected up to 15.31 ng/L in some of the samples.     

液相色谱-三重串联四极杆质谱测定粮油中的黄曲霉毒素

建立了超声提取-液相色谱-电喷雾三重串联四极杆质谱测定玉米、大米、大豆等粮油固体样品中黄曲霉毒素B1、B2、G1和G2(AFB1、AFB2、AFG1和AFG2)的方法。分析前对样品进行超声提取,优化得到最佳超声提取条件: 溶剂为甲醇-水(含40 g/L NaCl) (80:20, v/v)溶液、料液比为1:3(g:mL)、温度为50 ℃、时间为3 min。然后对提取的样品进行免疫亲和特异性净化。最后与液相色谱-电喷雾三重串联四极杆质谱联用,使用C18反相色谱柱,流动相为甲醇-10 mmol/L乙酸铵水溶液梯度洗脱,以黄曲霉毒素M1(AFM1)作为内标进行定量测定。结果表明,AFB1、AFB2、AFG1和AFG2的检出限分别为0.002、0.004、0.004和0.012 μg/kg。方法的加标回收率为87%～111%,日内相对标准偏差(RSD)和日间RSD分别不大于6.7%和5.6%。实验结果表明该方法可以有效地降低基质效应的影响,相比于外标法能极大地提高方法的准确度。     

Extraction of aflatoxins B1 and G1 from maize by using aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate

Aflatoxins are potent carcinogens produced by certain Aspergillus fungi. The aflatoxins were first discovered in the 1960s, and since then have been found to be distributed worldwide in a variety of commodities, foods, and feeds. Many of the early techniques for detecting aflatoxins involved extraction with halogenated solvents. With the increased availability and use of reversed-phase solid-phase extraction cartridges and the availability of immunoaffinity columns, aqueous mixtures of nonhalogenated solvents have been frequently used. To further reduce the need for solvents, we examined the effects of eliminating solvents during the extraction of maize, using aqueous mixtures of the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate. After extraction and filtration, aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) and G1 (AFG1) were isolated by using commercially available immunoaffinity columns. The isolated AFB1 and AFG1 were derivatized with trifluoroacetic acid before separation by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. In spiked maize, the limits of detection were 0.5 and 1 ng/g for AFB1 and AFG1, respectively. Recoveries of AFB1 from maize spiked at 1-20 ng/g averaged 87.5% (range, 76.3-99.0%), with an average repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) of 4.0%. Recoveries of AFG1 from maize spiked at 2-20 ng/g averaged 80.4% (range, 70.3-85.8%), with an average RSDr of 3.5%. This is the first reported demonstration of an effective solvent-free extraction of aflatoxins from maize at ambient pressure, and this extraction procedure may serve to help reduce solvent consumption during aflatoxin analysis.     

Mycotoxins in spices and culinary herbs from Italy and Tunisia

Abstract

Spices and aromatic herbs can be contaminated with mycotoxins, since of their preharvest, postharvest, and storage conditions. In this study, 112 samples of different spices and aromatic herbs were evaluated for their mycotoxins content by HPLC-MS/MS in order to highlight their possible risk linked with human use. The results showed that mycotoxins were occasionally detected only in samples of coriander, laurel, mint, rosemary, and verbena. In both geographical origins a different contamination was detected. Among the investigated mycotoxins, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, T2 and HT2 were detected, whereas none of the samples contained AFB1 and FB1. The co-occurrence of two toxins were observed for some samples of rosemary and verbena. This study indicates that it is essential minimize the toxins in agriculture, industry, and food-product manufacturing for the consumer health protection.     

Comparison of two post-column derivatization systems, ultraviolet irradiation and electrochemical determination, for the liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxins in food

This study compared 2 post-column derivatization (PCD) techniques for the determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2) by fluorescence detection after liquid chromatographic separation: ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (PCD(UV)) and electrochemical bromination (PCD(EC)). Photochemical fluorescence enhancement was obtained with 2 different commercially available systems (PCD(UV1) and PCD(UV2)). An electrochemical bromination apparatus was used for bromination. Analyses of naturally contaminated or spiked samples of corn, pistachio paste, peanut butter, fig paste, and animal feed showed that neither of the techniques resulted in derivatization-specific matrix interferences for any of the matrixes under study, even when extracts were not completely purified. The response ratios PCD(UV)/PCD(EC) for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 were 0.86, 0.96, 0.70, and 0.96, respectively, for PCD(UV1) and 0.82, 0.95, 0.60, and 0.90, respectively, for PCD(UV2). The long-term use of the UV lamps (300 h for PCD(UV1) and 343 h for PCD(UV2)) in the photochemical detectors showed that these ratios remained stable throughout the time frame investigated. The relative standard deviation obtained for each of the devices during the in-house validation study ranged from 0.3 to 1.8% for PCD(UV1), from 0.8 to 1.3% for PCD(UV2), and from 0.9 to 2.0% for PCD(EC).     

Thin-layer chromatography of mycotoxins

TLC has become an extremely powerful, rapid and in most instances inexpensive separation technique in mycotoxicology. This review presents achievements of its applications in this field. General technical aspects of the TLC of mycotoxins that are discussed include extraction and clean-up procedures, adsorbents and solvent systems, detection methods, two-dimensional TLC, high-performance TLC (HPTLC), quantitation and preparative TLC (PLC). Special applications of TLC deal with multi-mycotoxin analyses and with structurally related or individual mycotoxins (aflatoxins, sterigmatocystins, versicolorins, ochratoxins, rubratoxins, patulin, penicillic acid, mycophenolic acid, butenolide, citreoviridin, trichothecenes, cytochalasans, tremorgenic toxins, epipolythiopiperazine-3,6-diones, hydroxyanthraquinones, zearalenone, citrinin, secalonic acids, cyclopiazonic acid, PR toxin, roquefortine, xanthomegnin, viomellein and naphtho-gamma-pyrones).     

Comparison of Different Sorbents in the QuEChERS Method for the Determination of Pesticide Residues in Strawberries by LC–MS/MS

A comparison of sample preparation based on the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method for analysis of pesticide residues in strawberries by LC–MS/MS was made using different sorbents in the clean-up by dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE). Some sorbents were laboratory-made, prepared by depositing poly(methyloctadecylsiloxane) (PMODS), poly(methyloctylsiloxane) (PMOS), aminopropyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (APPS) and copolymer of (52–48 %)dimethyl-(48–52 %)methylphenyl-siloxane (DMMPS) onto silica supports. The commercial sorbent primary–secondary amine (PSA) and mixtures of two sorbents, primary–secondary amine and poly(methyloctadecylsiloxane), were also used in the experiments. The performances of the sorbents were evaluated by parameters such as color of the final extract, gravimetric measurement, recovery and matrix effect at the fortification level of 100 ng g^?1 of the pesticide mixture in strawberries. The recoveries were in the range 70–120 %, and the RSD values were lower than 20 % for most of the pesticides using the modified QuEChERS method with different sorbents in the clean-up step. The strawberry extracts were cleaned more efficiently with the use of primary–secondary amine sorbent, which has the function of removing sugars, organic acids and especially pigments. The sample preparation method was efficient, and LC–MS/MS determination was optimal because of high selectivity and good detectivity for the multiresidue analyses.     

Development of hyperbranched polymers with non-covalent interactions for extraction and determination of aflatoxins in cereal samples

A novel approach for assembling homogeneous hyperbranched polymers based on non-covalent interactions with aflatoxins was developed; the polymers were used to evaluate the extraction of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2) in simulant solutions. The results showed that the extraction efficiencies of three kinds of synthesized polymers for the investigated analytes were not statistically different; as a consequence, one of the representative polymers (polymer I) was used as the solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent to evaluate the influences of various parameters, such as desorption conditions, pH, ionic strength, concentration of methanol in sample solutions, and the mass of the sorbent on the extraction efficiency. In addition, the extraction efficiencies for these aflatoxins were compared between the investigated polymer and the traditional sorbent C18. The results showed that the investigated polymer had superior extraction efficiencies. Subsequently, the proposed polymer for the SPE packing material was employed to enrich and analyze four aflatoxins in the cereal powder samples. The limits of detection (LODs) at a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3 were in the range of 0.012–0.120 ng g⁻¹ for four aflatoxins, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) calculated at S/N = 10 were from 0.04 to 0.40 ng g⁻¹ for four aflatoxins. The recoveries of four aflatoxins from cereal powder samples were in the range of 82.7–103% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 10%. The results demonstrate the suitability of the SPE approach for the analysis of trace aflatoxins in cereal powder samples.     

Use of multitoxin immunoaffinity columns for determination of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in ginseng and ginger

Conditions were optimized for the simultaneous, alkaline, aqueous methanol extraction of aflatoxins (AFL), i.e., B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1), and G2 (AFG2), and ochratoxin A (OTA) with subsequent purification, isolation, and determination of the toxins in ginseng and ginger. Powdered roots were extracted with methanol-0.5% NaHCO3 solution (7 + 3). After shaking and centrifugation, the supernatant was diluted with 100 mM phosphate buffer containing 1% Tween 20 and filtered through glass microfiber filter paper. The filtrate was then passed through an immunoaffinity column, and the toxins were eluted with methanol. The AFL were separated and determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) with fluorescence detection after postcolumn UV photochemical derivatization. OTA was separated and determined by RPLC with fluorescence detection. Recoveries of AFL added at 2-16 ng/g and OTA added at 1-8 ng/g to ginseng were 72-80 and 86-95%, respectively. Recoveries of AFL and OTA added to ginger were similar to those for ginseng. A total of 39 commercially available ginger products from 6 manufacturers were analyzed. Twenty-six samples were found to be contaminated with AFL at 1-31 ng/g and 29 samples, with OTA at 1-10 ng/g. Ten samples contained no AFL or OTA. Ten ginseng finished products were also analyzed; 3 contained AFL at 0.1 ng/g and 4 contained OTA at levels ranging from 0.4 to 1.8 ng/g. LC/tandem mass spectrometry with multiple-reaction monitoring of 3 collisionally induced product ions from the protonated molecular ions of OTA, AFB1, and AFG1 was used to confirm the identities of the toxins in extracts of the finished products.     

New analytical method for the determination of musks in personal care products by Quick,Easy, Cheap,Effective, Rugged,and Safe extraction followed by GC–MS

Synthetic musks are organic compounds used as fragrance additives and fixative compounds in a diversity of personal care products. A new method based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction followed by GC–MS for the analysis of 12 musks in personal care products was developed and validated. Some experimental parameters, such as total QuEChERS mass, sample mass/solvent volume ratio, type of extraction solvent, as well as salts and sorbents amount were investigated and optimized. The final method involves the musks extraction using acetonitrile, followed by the addition of anhydrous magnesium sulphate and sodium acetate. The clean‐up step was performed using dispersive SPE with primary and secondary amine and octadecyl–silica sorbents. This extraction procedure is fast (about 10 min) when compared to other traditional approaches. The method was robust for the matrices studied and shows a high precision (%RSD < 15%) and accuracy (average recovery of 85%), allowing the detection of musks in minimum concentrations between 0.01 ng/g (galaxolide) and 15.80 ng/g (musk xylene). The developed method was applied to the analysis of 12 samples, which revealed musks concentrations ranging from 2 ng/g (toothpaste) to 882 340 ng/g (perfumed body lotion).     

Application of d-SPE before SPE and HPLC-FLD to Analyze Bisphenols in Human Breast Milk Samples

In this study, we propose a simple, cost-effective, and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) for the simultaneous determination of seven bisphenols (bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol E (BPE), bisphenol B (BPB), BADGE (bisphenol A diglycidyl ether), BADGE∙2H₂O, BADGE∙H₂O, BADGE∙2HCl) in human breast milk samples. The dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) coupled with solid phase extraction (SPE) procedure performed well for the majority of the analytes with recoveries in the range 57–88% and relative standard deviations (RSD%) of less than 9.4%. During the d-SPE stage, no significant matrix effect was observed thanks to the application of different pairs of salts such as zirconium-dioxide-based sorbents (Z-Sep or Z-Sep +) and primary secondary amine (PSA) or QuEChERS Enhanced Matrix Removal-Lipid (EMR-Lipid) and PSA. The method limits of quantification (mLOQs) for all investigated analytes were set at satisfactory low values in the range 171.89–235.11 ng mL⁻¹. Analyte concentrations were determined as the average value from human breast milk matrix samples. The results show that the d-SPE/SPE procedure, especially with the application of EMR-Lipid and PSA, could be used for further bisphenol analyses in human breast milk samples.     

Solid-phase extraction clean-up of soil and sediment extracts for the determination of various types of pollutants in a single run

A new sample clean-up procedure based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents was proposed for the determination of pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in soils and sediments. The main purpose of the research was to find a combination of sorbents for the SPE method that would permit the determination of many types of analytes (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, N-, P- and Cl-containing pesticides) in a single run. Elution profiles for both the analytes and the interfering components were determined for several types of SPE sorbents (alumina, silica and surface-modified silica) and combinations of them. The efficiency of the clean-up method developed was evaluated using real soil samples.