A quantitative method for residues of macrolide antibiotics in porcine kidney by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

An LC/MS/MS-based multiresidue quantitative method was developed for the macrolides erythromycin A, neospiramycin I, oleandomycin, spiramycin I, tilmicosin, and tylosin A in porcine kidney tissues. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) had as part of its analytical scope an LC/UV method for quantification of residues of two macrolide antibiotics, tilmicosin and tylosin A, in the kidney, liver, and muscle of cattle, swine, and poultry. The method could not reliably detect concentrations below 10 microg/kg. To increase the scope of the CFIA's analytical capabilities, a sensitive multiresidue quantitative method for macrolide residues in food animal tissues was required. Porcine kidney samples were extracted with acetonitrile and alkaline buffer and cleaned-up using silica-based C18 SPE cartridges. Sample extracts were analyzed using LC/MS/MS with positive electrospray ionization. Fitness for purpose was verified in a single-laboratory validation study using a second analyst. The working analytical range was 5 to 50 microg/kg. LOD and LOQ were 0.5 to 0.6 microg/kg and 1.5 to 3.0 microg/kg, respectively. Limits of identification were 0.5 to 2.0 microg/kg. Relative intermediate precisions were 8 to 17%. Average absolute recoveries were 68 to 76%.     

Determination of nifursol metabolites in poultry muscle and liver tissue. Development and validation of a confirmatory method

A method is described for the identification and quantitative determination of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid hydrazide (DSH), the marker residue of nifursol metabolites in poultry (turkey, broiler) muscle and liver tissue. The method is based on the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of tissue-bound metabolites to free DSH and in situ derivatisation with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde to the corresponding nitrophenyl derivative NPDSH. A structural analogue of DSH, 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid hydrazide (HBH) was synthesised to serve as an internal standard. The analytes were isolated from the matrix by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. Determination was performed by LC-MS/MS with negative electrospray ionisation. The [M - H](+) ions of NPDSH and NPHBH at m/z 374 were fragmented by collision induced dissociation (CID) producing transition ions at m/z 182, 183 and 226. The transition ions at m/z 182 and 226 were selected for monitoring of NPDSH while the transition ion at m/z 183 was selected for NPHBH. The method has been validated according to the EU criteria of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 microg kg(-1) in muscle and liver tissue. A decision limit (CC(alpha)) was obtained of 0.04 and 0.025 microg kg(-1) in muscle and liver, respectively. Similarly a detection capability (CC(beta)) was obtained of 0.10 and 0.05 microg kg(-1) in muscle and liver, respectively. The introduction of HBH as an internal standard did not lead to a significant improvement of the quantitative performance of the method. In fact for liver better performance characteristics were obtained when the IS was not taken into account. Nevertheless, as a qualitative marker for recovery, HBH could still be very useful in the analysis of unknown samples.     

Analysis of erythromycin and tylosin in bovine muscle using disposable screen printed electrodes

A disposable electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of two macrolides (erythromycin and tylosin) in bovine muscle was developed using a screen printed electrode (SPE) system as a differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) transducer with mouse anti-erythromycin (and anti-tylosin) monoclonal antibodies (MAb) serving as molecular recognition elements. The immunochemical system makes use of the competition assay principle, and employs an erythromycin (or tylosin)-BSA conjugate as coating molecule. After competition between free and coated analyte for the antibodies, the activity of the alkaline phosphatase labelled antiglobulins was measured electrochemically using 1-naphthylphosphate as substrate. Using standard solutions of erythromycin and tylosin, the detection limit of the assay was 0.2 ng mL(-1) determined to be for erythromycin and 2.0 ng mL(-1) for tylosin, while the sensitivity (25% inhibition concentration) was 1.0 ng mL(-1) for erythromycin and 3.0 ng mL(-1) for tylosin. The suitability of the assay for quantification of erythromycin and tylosin in bovine muscle was also studied. Spiked and real samples were analysed using the immunosensor system developed here. The ELISA showed precision values (relative standard deviation, RSD%) ranging from 4 to 9% for erythromycin and from 8 to 15% for tylosin; the accuracy (relative error, RE%) ranged from -11 to 6% and from -4 to 12% for erythromycin and tylosin, respectively. Results obtained on real samples were confirmed by micro-liquid chromatography coupled on line with tandem mass spectrometry (micro-LC-MS-MS), using an atmospheric pressure ionisation (API) source and an ionspray (IS) interface. The latter provides unequivocal identification and quantification of the analytes at the level of interest.     

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.     

肉食品中常见4种抗生素残留的高效液相色谱分析

建立了同时测定肉食品中泰乐菌素、替米考星、氯霉素、氟苯尼考的高效液相色谱方法,样品经乙腈提取,正己烷脱脂, HLB小柱净化后,以C18反相色谱柱为分离柱,甲醇－磷酸二氢钠缓冲溶液(pH 3.0,含体积比为10％的甲醇溶液）为流动相进行梯度洗脱,检测波长λ为275 nm.泰乐菌素、替米考星、氯霉素、氟苯尼考的线性范围是0.1～20.0 mg/L,相关系数分别为0.9987、0.9992、0.9985、0.9970.其平均回收率为75％～87%,相对标准偏差为1.35％～5.41％,泰乐菌素、替米考星、氯霉素、氟苯尼考的检出限分别为20、32、19、16μg/kg.方法满足肉食品中泰乐菌素、替米考星、氯霉素、氟苯尼考的残留量测定.     

Multiresidue chromatographic method for the determination of macrolide residues in muscle by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of tilmicosin, tylosin, spiramycin, and its major metabolite neospiramycin was developed that is suitable for porcine, bovine, and poultry muscles. Macrolide residues were extracted from muscle with acetonitrile, fat was removed by liquid-liquid extraction with isooctane, and the extract was then cleaned on Bond Elut C18 cartridges. The HPLC separation was performed on an Inertsil ODS3 C18 column (150 x 4 mm) with 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid-acetonitrile in a gradient mode. Two different chromatographic gradients were used for tilmicosin-tylosin and spiramycin-neospiramycin, and the detection wavelengths were 287 and 232 nm, respectively. The method was validated from 1/2 the maximum residue limit (MRL) to 4 times the MRL with pork muscle samples. Mean recoveries were 60, 63.5, 51, and 42% for tilmicosin, tylosin, spiramycin, and neospiramycin, respectively. The detection limits are 15 micrograms/kg for tilmicosin and tylosin, 30 micrograms/kg for spiramycin, and 25 micrograms/kg for neospiramycin. Linearity, precision, and accuracy of the method were also tested.     

Application of ion-exchange cartridge clean-up in food analysis. VI. Determination of six penicillins in bovine tissues by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A multiresidue analytical method was developed for the quantification of benzylpenicillin (PCG), phenoxymethylpenicillin (PCV), oxacillin (MPIPC), cloxacillin (MCIPC), nafcillin (NFPC) and dicloxacillin (MDIPC) in bovine tissues using liquid chromatography- electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI MS/MS) with a multiple reaction monitoring technique. Using the deuterated PCG and NFPC as internal standard was effective for improvement of repeatability and accuracy. We chose [M-H-141]- as a monitor ion of MRM analysis and [M-H]- as a precursor ion for each penicillin. Combination of an ion-exchange cartridge clean-up and ion-pair LC enable us to determine the residual penicillins using the standard curves made from standard solutions without the influence of sample matrix on the MS. The average recoveries of PCG, PCV, MPIPC, MCIPC, NFPC and MDIPC from bovine liver, kidney and muscle at the same concentrations as the tolerance levels of PCG (50 microg/kg) ranged from 77 to 101% with the coefficients of variation ranging from 0.7 to 4.2% (n = 5). The limits of quantification for the six penicillins were 2-10 microg/kg in bovine muscle, liver and kidney (S/N ratio >10).     

Quantitative determination of ochratoxin A in kidneys by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A sensitive liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method for the quantitative determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in kidney samples was developed. Ochratoxin B (OTB) was used as internal standard. Extraction of homogenized kidney samples was done by adding a chloroform/phosphoric acid mixture. Due to restriction of the sample size, less chloroform could be used than in previously described methods. Two different columns for clean-up were compared: strong anion exchange (Bond Elut SAX) and Extrelut NT columns. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used with gradient elution consisting of variable mixtures of formic acid (0.3%) in acetonitrile and formic acid (0.3%) in water. The mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ESI mode using multiple reaction monitoring. For OTA the precursor ion was m/z 404 while the product ions were at m/z 239 and m/z 341. For OTB the precursor ion was m/z 370 while the product ions were at m/z 205 and at m/z 324. A calibration curve of fortified kidney samples was used to quantify OTA. Method validation was performed according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Decision limit (CCalpha), detection capability (CCbeta), precision, bias, trueness, specificity and measurement uncertainty were determined. In general, the best results were obtained using SAX clean-up. CCalpha and CCbeta were 0.11 and 0.25 microg kg(-1), respectively. Within-laboratory reproducibility (% CV) was 9, 9, and 5% for OTA-fortified kidney samples of 0.5, 1, and 2.5 microg kg(-1), respectively. Trueness (%) was 75, 69, and 57% for OTA-fortified kidney samples at 0.25, 0.5, and 1 microg kg(-1), respectively. Measurement uncertainty and expanded uncertainty were 14.85 and 29.70%, respectively. All criteria as laid down in Commission Decision 2002/657/EC were fulfilled. Therefore, this LC/ESI-MS/MS method can be used to monitor kidneys for OTA in the framework of Council Directive No. 96/23/EC.     

Application of positive ion chemical ionisation and tandem mass spectrometry combined with gas chromatography to the trace level analysis of ethyl carbamate in bread

A rapid, sensitive and selective method has been developed and validated for the analysis of the contaminant ethyl carbamate (EC) in bread products at the part-per-billion level. The new procedure uses positive ion chemical ionisation (PICI) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), combined with gas chromatography (GC), on a 'bench-top' triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. Ammonia was the PICI reagent gas of choice because of its ability to produce abundant [M+H]+ and [M+NH4]+ ions from EC and deuterium-labelled EC (LEC) used as an internal standard. For identification and quantification, selected reaction monitoring (SRM) was used to follow the precursor-to-product ion transitions of m/z 107 --> 90, m/z 107 --> 62 and m/z 90 --> 62 for EC, as well as m/z 112 --> 63 for the LEC internal standard. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.6 and 1.2 microg kg(-1), respectively, and the recovery of the method was 101 +/- 10% at 10 microg kg(-1) and 98 +/- 5% at 100 microg kg(-1). The precision of the method, established under conditions of intermediate reproducibility, did not exceed a relative standard deviation of 7%. The quantitative performance of the new GC/PICI-SRM procedure compared favourably with that of a reference method based on GC/MS and selected ion monitoring (correlation coefficient, r = 0.997). However, the new method had the advantages of reduced sample preparation time, improved sensitivity and unambiguous identification of EC at all concentrations. Application of the new method to the analysis of 50 UK breads showed that levels of EC ranged from 0.6 to 2.3 microg kg(-1) in retail products and from 3.1 to 12.2 microg kg(-1) for breads prepared using domestic breadmaking machines (dry weight basis). Toasting bread in a domestic toaster led to increases of between two- and three-fold in mean EC concentrations.     

A new electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the screening of macrolide antibiotic residues in bovine meat.

A new sensitive electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of two macrolides (erythromycin and tylosin) in bovine muscle was developed, using the mouse monoclonal antibodies anti-erythromycin and anti-tylosin. The competitive indirect assay was performed using an erythromycin (or tylosin)-BSA conjugate as a coating molecule; after competition between free and coated analytes for the antibodies, the activity of the horseradish peroxidase-labelled antiglobulins was measured electrochemically using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as substrate. The detection limit of the assay was 0.4 ng ml(-1) for erythromycin and 4.0 ng ml(-1) for tylosin, while the sensitivity (25% inhibition concentration) was 1.4 ng ml(-1) for erythromycin and 13.0 ng ml(-1) for tylosin. The specificity of the assay was assessed by studying the cross-reactivity of various macrolides other than erythromycin and tylosin. The results indicate that the monoclonal antibodies anti-erythromycin and anti-tylosin can readily distinguish the target compound from other macrolides, with the exception of roxithromycin, a semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic derived from erythromycin. Fortified and real samples were analysed by the developed ELISA method and results confirmed by micro-LC-MS-MS using an atmospheric pressure ionisation (API) source and an ionspray (IS) interface. The latter provides unequivocal identification and quantification of the analytes at the level of interest. The ELISA assay showed precision (RSD) values ranging from 6.3 to 11.4% for erythromycin and from 7.5 to 12.6% for tylosin; the accuracy (relative error, RE) ranged from -16.0 to -9.8% and from -9.5 to 8.0% for erythromycin and tylosin, respectively. All results obtained demonstrate that the electrochemical ELISA is a suitable method for a sensitive, simple, rapid and reliable screening of the two macrolides in animal tissues.     

Determination of tilmicosin residues in chicken, cattle, swine, and sheep tissues by liquid chromatography

A method was developed and validated for determination and quantitation of tilmicosin residues in swine, cattle, and sheep edible tissues, as well as chicken fat, skin, and muscle over a concentration range of 0.025 microg/g-20 microg/g. For chicken kidney and liver, the method was validated over a range of 0.060 microg/g-20 microg/g. The tissue sample was extracted with methanol and a C18 cartridge was used for solid-phase extraction cleanup. A reversed-phase gradient liquid chromatographic method with detection at 280 nm was used to separate the tilmicosin from matrix components in 30 min run time. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) of the method was 0.025 microg/g for all tested tissues except chicken kidney and liver, for which the LOQ was 0.06 microg/g. Average recoveries for tissue samples ranged from 73 to 98%. Relative standard deviation values ranged from 0.6 to 14.7%.     

Liquid chromatography-UV diode-array detection method for multi-residue determination of macrolide antibiotics in sheep's milk

A rapid, simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-UV diode-array detection method was developed for the simultaneous determination of seven macrolides (erythromycin, oleandomycin, roxithromycin, josamycin, spiramycin, tylosin and ivermectin) in sheep's milk. The column, mobile phase, temperature and flow rate were optimised to provide the best resolution of these analytes. The extraction of the antibiotic residues involves the treatment of protein-free samples with a combination of concentrated sodium hydroxide and ethyl acetate. Necessary defatting is achieved by alkaline hydrolysis. The recovery of each antibiotic was between 55% and 77%, with relative standard deviations ranging from 1% to 6.5%. The limit of quantification was 72.4 microg/kg for ivermectin, 48.3 microg/kg for roxithromycin, and 24.1 microg/kg for erythromycin, oleandomycin, spiramycin, josamycin and tylosin. The procedure was successfully used in the multi-residue determination of these macrolides at levels below the maximum concentrations legally allowed in milk samples.     

Validated method for determination of ultra-trace closantel residues in bovine tissues and milk by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-ESI-MS/MS) with solid extraction was developed and validated for the detection and determination of closantel residues in bovine tissues and milk. An acetonitrile-acetone mixture (80:20, v/v) was used for one-stage extraction of closantel residues in bovine tissues and milk samples, and the extract was cleaned by solid phase extraction with Oasis MAX cartridges. The mass spectrometer was operated in multiple reactions monitoring mode with negative electrospray interface. The limits of detection in different matrices were in the range of 0.008-0.009 microg/kg. The overall recoveries for bovine muscle, liver, kidney and milk samples spiked at four levels including MRL were in the range of 76.0-94.3%. The overall relative standard deviations were in the range of 3.57-8.61%. The linearity is satisfactory with a correlation coefficient (r(2)) of 0.9913-0.9987 at both concentration ranges of 0.02-100 microg/kg and 200-5000 microg/kg. The method is capable of identifying closantel residues at > or =0.02 microg/kg levels and was applied in the determination of closantel residues in animal origin foods.     

液相色谱在线净化-电喷雾串联质谱测定水产品中大环内酯和林可胺类药物残留

建立了水产品中大环内酯类抗生素[红霉素(ERM)、罗红霉素(ROM)、替米卡星(TIL)、泰乐菌素(TYL)、北里霉素(KIT)、交沙霉素(JOS)、竹桃霉素(OLM)、螺旋霉素Ⅰ(SPM-Ⅰ)]和林可胺类(林可霉素(LIN)和氯林可霉素(CLD))的高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱(LC-ESI-MS/MS)检测方法.样品经提取、反相液相色谱分离净化后进行质谱分析,在选择反应监测模式(SRM)下进行特征母-子离子对信号采集.根据保留时间和母离子及两个特征子离子信息定性分析,以基峰离子进行定量.大环内酯类残留的检出限(S/N=3)为0.1～0.2μg/kg,定量限为1.0μg/kg,在1.0～200 ng/mL时峰强度与质量浓度的线性关系良好(R~2 >0.99).在虾、鳗鱼和带鱼3种基质中1.0、2.0、10.0μg/kg 3个添加水平下,除个别药物外,药物的平均回收率范围为64%～114%,RSD<12%.该法适用于各种水产品中大环内酯类残留的分析.     

Development and validation of a method for the confirmation of nicarbazin in chicken liver and eggs using LC-electrospray MS-MS according to the revised EU criteria for veterinary drug residue analysis.

A method is described for the quantitative confirmation of 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC), the marker residue for nicarbazin in chicken liver and eggs. The method is based on LC coupled to negative ion electrospray MS-MS of tissue extracts prepared by liquid-liquid extraction. The [M-H]- ion at m/z 301 is monitored along with two transition ions at m/z 137 and 107 for DNC and the [M-H]- ion at m/z 309 for the internal standard, d8-DNC. The method has been validated according to the new EU criteria for the analysis of veterinary drug residues at 100, 200 and 300 microg kg(-1) in liver and at 10, 30 and 100 microg kg(-1) in eggs. Difficulties concerning the application of the new analytical limits, namely the decision limit (CCalpha) and the detection capability (CCbeta) to the determination of DNC in both liver and eggs are discussed.     

气相色谱-质谱联用法测定动物组织中氯霉素、氟甲砜霉素和甲砜霉素的残留量

建立了气相色谱-负离子化学电离源质谱同时测定动物组织中氯霉素(CAP)、甲砜霉素(TAP)和氟甲砜霉素(FF)残留量的方法。样品用乙酸乙酯提取,正己烷分配去脂肪,再用Florisil柱进一步净化,甲苯作为反应介质,用N,O-双(三甲基硅基)三氟乙酰胺(BSTFA)-三甲基氯硅烷(TMCS)(体积比为99∶1)进行硅烷化处理,用间硝基氯霉素(m-CAP)作为内标进行测定。CAP的检测限可达到0.03 μg/kg,TAP和FF的检测限可达到0.2 μg/kg;上述3种药物的标准曲线的线性相关系数均大于0.99。CAP,FF和TAP的批内测定的精密度(以相对标准偏差表示)依次为5.5%,10.4%和8.8%;批间测定的精密度依次为7.4%,20.7%和19.1%。回收率为80.0%~111.5%,相对标准偏差为1.2%~15.4%。该方法前处理步骤简单,处理后杂质干扰少,灵敏度高,适用性强,可用于猪肉及禽类、水产品等多种动物组织中氯霉素类药物残留的检测。     

Determination of macrolide antibiotics in porcine and bovine urine by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to coulometric detection

A high-performance liquid chromatography method coupled to coulometric detection has been applied for the determination, in a single run, of up to eight macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin [ERY], tylosin [TYL], tilmicosin [TILM], spiramycin 2 [SPI 2], spiramycin 3 [SPI 3], josamycin [JOS], kitasamycin [KIT], and rosamicin [ROS]) in spiked porcine and bovine urine. Quantification was performed using matrix-matched calibration with roxithromycin (ROX) as the internal standard. The detection limits for each drug were below 3.5 ng injected (equivalent to an initial concentration below 0.07 mg L^–1) for porcine urine and below 5 ng injected (equivalent to an initial concentration below 0.10 mg L^–1) for bovine urine. Recoveries from urine samples spiked at three different concentrations within the linear range were not significantly dependent on concentration. The entire procedure provides average macrolide recoveries ranging from 69.7 to 96.6% for bovine urine and from 75.5 and 96.1% for porcine urine.     

Liquid chromatography with electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometry for the determination of anatoxins in cyanobacteria and drinking water

Anatoxin-a (AN) and homoanatoxin-a (HMAN) are potent neurotoxins produced by a number of cyanobacterial species. A new, sensitive liquid chromatography/multiple tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS(n)) method has been developed for the determination of these neurotoxins. The LC system was coupled, via an electrospray ionisation (ESI) source, to an ion-trap mass spectrometer in positive ion mode. The [M+H](+) ions at m/z 166 (anatoxin-a) and m/z 180 (homoanatoxin-a) were used as the precursor ions for multiple MS experiments. MS(2)bond;MS(4) spectra displayed major fragment ions at m/z 149 (AN), 163 (HMAN), assigned to [Mbond;NH(3)+H](+); m/z 131 (AN), 145 (HMAN), assigned to [Mbond;NH(3)bond;H(2)O+H](+), and m/z 91 [C(7)H(7)](+). Although the chromatographic separation of these neurotoxins is problematic, reversed-phase LC, using a C(18) Luna column, proved successful. Calibration data for anatoxin-a using spiked water samples (10 mL) in LC/MS(n) modes were: LC/MS (25-1000 microg/L), r(2) = 0.998; LC/MS(2) (5-1000(microg/L), r(2) = 0.9993; LC/MS(3) (2.5-1000 microg/L), r(2) = 0.9997. Reproducibility data (% RSD, N = 3) for each LC/MS(n) mode ranged between 2.0 at 500 microg/L and 7.0 at 10 microg/L. The detection limit (S/N = 3) for AN was better than 0.03 ng (on-column) for LC/MS(3) which corresponded to 0.6 microg/L.     

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a solid-phase extraction adsorbent for the determination of three barbiturates in pork by ion trap gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) following microwave assisted derivatization

A new method was developed for the rapid screening and confirmation analysis of barbital, amobarbital and phenobarbital residues in pork by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) with ion trap MSD. The residual barbiturates in pork were extracted by ultrasonic extraction, cleaned up on a multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) packed solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge and applied acetone-ethyl acetate (3:7, v/v) mixture as eluting solvent and derivatized with CH3I under microwave irradiation. The methylated barbiturates were separated on a TR-5MS capillary column and detected with an ion trap mass detector. Electron impact ion source (EI) operating MS/MS mode was adopted for identification and external standard method was employed for quantification. One precursor ion m/z 169 was selected for analysis of barbital and amobarbital and m/z 232 was selected for phenobarbital. The product ions were obtained under 1.0 V excitation voltage. Good linearities (linear coefficient R > 0.99) were obtained at the range of 0.5-50 microg kg(-1). Limit of detection (LOD) of barbital was 0.2 microg kg(-1) and that of amobarbital and phenobarbital were both 0.1 microg kg(-1) (S/N > or = 3). Limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.5 microg kg(-1) for three barbiturates (S/N > or = 10). Satisfying recoveries ranging from 75% to 96% of the three barbiturates spiked in pork were obtained, with relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) in the range of 2.1-7.8%.     

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.