Determination of phospholipids in milk samples by means of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to evaporative light scattering and mass spectrometry detection

The combined use of the state-of-the-art hybrid mass spectrometers together with high efficient liquid chromatography could surely be a useful tool for such a challenging task, as phospholipids (PLs) analysis. In this research, we used hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (150 mm×2.1 mm I.D., 2.7 μm d.p. partially porous column) to achieve the separation of major PLs classes in cow's and donkey's milk samples. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was performed in order to pre-concentrate minor PLs from non polar lipids (triacylglycerols) and the recovery for the extraction method was assayed on a milk sample, fortified with 5 μg/mL of SM pure standard, and analyzed in triplicate. A value of 89.99% was calculated, with a coefficient of variation (CV%) of 1.93. A 70-min long stepwise gradient of water/acetonitrile afforded baseline separation of PLs classes, at 50 μL/min flow rate. Accurate detection by an ion trap-time of flight (IT-TOF) mass spectrometer (in both positive and negative ionization mode) allowed to fully characterize the distinctive phospholipid profile and fatty acid composition of cow's and donkey's milk, the latter being analyzed for the first time. Evaporative light scattering detection was further employed to attain the quantitative evaluation of major PLs classes identified, by the external calibration method using reference material solutions in the 5-200 μg/mL concentration range. Major difference between the two analyzed samples consisted in the total PLs amount, which in cow's milk was determined as over 20-fold higher than the donkey's.     

Development and Validation of a Dispersive Solid Phase Extraction Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Method with Electrospray Ionization for the Determination of Multiclass Pesticides and Metabolites in Meat and Milk

A dispersive solid phase extraction–liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method with electrospray ionization was validated in food of animal origin for the determination of multiclass pesticide residues and their metabolites. A simple and low-cost sample preparation procedure using freezing as the clean-up step was used to identify and quantify analytes belonging to 39 different chemical classes in meat and milk matrices. Mean recoveries in the range of 70–120% with relative standard deviations <10% were obtained for the majority of the analytes. The limit of quantification of the method was 10 µg/kg. The matrix effects were statistically evaluated and the quantification of the analytes was conducted using calibration curves constructed with matrix matched calibration standards covering concentrations from 5 to 200 µg/kg. The proposed method was applied in 86 samples of animal origin taken from the Greek market, two of which were found positive for pesticides.     

SPE then RP-LC for Simultaneous Analysis of Cyromazine and its Metabolite Melamine in Liquid Milk and Egg

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) have been used for simple, sensitive simultaneous analysis of cyromazine and melamine residues in liquid milk and eggs. The conditions used for SPE and LC were investigated and optimized. A combined cation-exchange–reversed-phase cartridge was used for clean-up, and an ODS (C₁₈) column (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5-μm particles) with 62:38 (v/v) 5 mm sodium lauryl sulfate (pH 3.4)–acetonitrile as mobile phase was used for RP-LC. Under the optimum conditions the method limit of detection (LOD) for both cyromazine and melamine was 6.2 μg kg^?1 for liquid milk samples, and 11.5 μg kg^?1 for egg samples. Average recovery of cyromazine and melamine from milk samples was 90.3%, RSD 4.6–5.6%, and 99.6%, RSD 3.2–4.7%, respectively. Average recovery of cyromazine and melamine from egg samples was 85.3%, RSD 1.0–4.7%, and 89.6%, RSD 3.1–5.0%, respectively. The method enables detection of melamine and cyromazine at levels as low as 20.7 μg kg^?1 in liquid milk and 38.3 μg kg^?1 in egg.     

Determination of Urea in Milk by Liquid Chromatography-Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry

A definitive method based on liquid chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS) has been developed for the determination of milk urea, an indicator of nutrition status for the lactating animals. The milk samples were treated twice by sequentially adding acetonitrile and chloroform to precipitate proteins and then were directly separated using normal phase liquid chromatography without chemical derivatization. After the matrix separation, exact matching IDMS was used for the determination of milk urea, with high accuracy, high precision, good linearity and low uncertainty. The recoveries obtained for the four spiked milk samples were 100.6–102.2%. The linear range of signal responses was 10–2000 mg · kg^?1 with a linearity coefficient of 0.9995. The intraday and interday precisions in terms with relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 0.17–0.38% and 0.28–0.40%, respectively. The uncertainties of the whole sample analysis process were estimated to be 0.83%, 0.60%, and 0.64% for three samples with concentrations of 151.28, 184.36, and 266.66 mg · kg^?1.     

SPE then RP-LC for Simultaneous Analysis of Cyromazine and its Metabolite Melamine in Liquid Milk and Egg

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) have been used for simple, sensitive simultaneous analysis of cyromazine and melamine residues in liquid milk and eggs. The conditions used for SPE and LC were investigated and optimized. A combined cation-exchange–reversed-phase cartridge was used for clean-up, and an ODS (C₁₈) column (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5-μm particles) with 62:38 (v/v) 5 mm sodium lauryl sulfate (pH 3.4)–acetonitrile as mobile phase was used for RP-LC. Under the optimum conditions the method limit of detection (LOD) for both cyromazine and melamine was 6.2 μg kg⁻¹ for liquid milk samples, and 11.5 μg kg⁻¹ for egg samples. Average recovery of cyromazine and melamine from milk samples was 90.3%, RSD 4.6–5.6%, and 99.6%, RSD 3.2–4.7%, respectively. Average recovery of cyromazine and melamine from egg samples was 85.3%, RSD 1.0–4.7%, and 89.6%, RSD 3.1–5.0%, respectively. The method enables detection of melamine and cyromazine at levels as low as 20.7 μg kg⁻¹ in liquid milk and 38.3 μg kg⁻¹ in egg.

     

Determination of Chloramphenicol in Milk Using a QuEChERS-Based on Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method

A quantitative method for the determination of chloramphenicol in milk samples was developed based on the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) approach for liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Homogenized milk samples were extracted with acetonitrile. The partitioning step was performed after the addition of magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride. Chloramphenicol was determined using the electrospray negative ionization mode with tandem mass spectrometry. The procedure was validated according to the requirements of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The apparent recovery ranged from 90% to 110% and within-laboratory reproducibility was lower than 12%. The calculated limit of decision was 0.10 μg kg^?1 and the detection capability was 0.15 μg kg^?1. Validation results demonstrated that this method fulfills criteria for the determination of chloramphenicol in milk.     

Simple Multiresidue Determination of Fluoroquinolones in Bovine Milk by Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection

Abstract

A simple and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of five fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, and sarafloxacin) in bovine milk was developed. Protein precipitation from milk samples was achieved by the addition of acetonitrile and o‐phosphoric acid. Acetonitrile was removed with dichloromethane, leaving the fluoroquinolones in the acid aqueous extract. The aqueous extract was analyzed by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC–FD). The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile and 10 mM citrate buffer solution of pH 4.5, with an initial composition of acetonitrile‐water (12∶88, v/v) and using linear gradient elution. Norfloxacin was used as an internal standard. The limits of detection found ranged from 1 to 6 ng · mL^?1 and were below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union. The proposed method was applied to the determination of these compounds in different bovine milk samples. Method validation was carried out by a recovery assay.     

Quantification of fatty acids as methyl esters and phospholipids in cheese samples after separation of triacylglycerides and phospholipids

Determination of the individual fatty acid composition of neutral- and phospholipids as well as the phospholipid content of dairy food and other foodstuffs are important tasks in life sciences. For these purposes, a method was developed for the separation of lipids (standards of triolein and diacylphosphatidylcholines as well as three cheese samples) by solid-phase extraction using a self-packed column filled with partly deactivated silica. Non-halogenated solvents were used for the elution of the lipid classes. Cyclohexane/ethyl acetate (1:1, v/v) served for the elution of neutral lipids, while polar lipids were eluted with three solvents (ethyl acetate/methanol, methanol, and methanol/water) into one fraction. The separated lipid fractions were transesterified and the individual fatty acids were quantified by using gas chromatography coupled to electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The recovery rate for standard phosphatidylcholines was ∼90% and cross-contamination from neutral lipids was negligible. The method was applied to cheese samples. Quantitative amounts of individual fatty acids in the phospholipid fraction were <0.002-0.29% of total lipids from camembert, <0.002-0.12% of total lipids from mozzarella, and <0.002-0.18% of total lipids in a goat cream cheese. Differences in the fatty acid pattern of neutral and polar lipids were detected. The quantity of the fatty acids determined in the phospholipid fraction was divided by the factor 0.7 in order to convert the fatty acid content into the phospholipid content of the cheese samples. This factor is based on the contribution of 16:0 to dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). The resulting DPPC equivalents (DPPC_eq) were found to be representative for the average contribution of fatty acids to all classes of phospholipids in dairy products. Using this approach, the phospholipid content of lipids from mozzarella, camembert, and goat cream cheese was 0.60%, 1.42% and 0.79%, respectively.     

Quantification of cow milk adulteration in goat milk using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A method was developed for the quantification of cow milk adulteration in goat milk, based on solvent separation of whey proteins followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS). The presence of cow milk was determined using beta-lactoglobulin whey protein as the molecular marker. The adulterants were identified using both retention time and molecular mass derived from multiply charged molecular ions. Standard solutions containing cow and goat milk in different volume ratios were prepared and analyzed. Good linearity covering cow milk content from 5% and above was obtained. The proposed method identifies the adulterants using accurate molecular masses for protein identification and detects the addition of cow milk to goat milk at levels as low as 5%.     

Fully automated standard addition method for the quantification of 29 polar pesticide metabolites in different water bodies using LC-MS/MS

A reliable quantification by LC-ESI-MS/MS as the most suitable analytical method for polar substances in the aquatic environment is usually hampered by matrix effects from co-eluting compounds, which are unavoidably present in environmental samples. The standard addition method (SAM) is the most appropriate method to compensate matrix effects. However, when performed manually, this method is too labour- and time-intensive for routine analysis. In the present work, a fully automated SAM using a multi-purpose sample manager “Open Architecture UPLC®-MS/MS” (ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry) was developed for the sensitive and reliable determination of 29 polar pesticide metabolites in environmental samples. A four-point SAM was conducted parallel to direct-injection UPLC-ESI-MS/MS determination that was followed by a work flow to calculate the analyte concentrations including monitoring of required quality criteria. Several parameters regarding the SAM, chromatography and mass spectrometry conditions were optimised in order to obtain a fast as well as reliable analytical method. The matrix effects were examined by comparison of the SAM with an external calibration method. The accuracy of the SAM was investigated by recovery tests in samples of different catchment areas. The method detection limit was estimated to be between 1 and 10 ng/L for all metabolites by direct injection of a 10-μL sample. The relative standard deviation values were between 2 and 10 % at the end of calibration range (30 ng/L). About 200 samples from different water bodies were examined with this method in the Rhine and Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany). Approximately 94 % of the analysed samples contained measurable amounts of metabolites. For most metabolites, low concentrations ≤0.10 μg/L were determined. Only for three metabolites were the concentrations in ground water significantly higher (up to 20 μg/L). In none of the examined drinking water samples were the health-related indication values (between 1 and 3 μg/L) for non-relevant metabolites exceeded.     

Determination of Melamine in Fresh Milk with Hollow Fiber Liquid Phase Microextraction Based on Ion-Pair Mechanism Combined with High Performance Liquid Chromatography

In this work, a novel analytical method based on hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the analysis of melamine in fresh milk. The conditions of the HF-LPME were investigated and optimized. As a result, a supported liquid membrane containing 6-undecanone and di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) was selected. The extractions were made from 25 mL aqueous donor phase (prepared from milk) with pH 5.0 to a more acidic acceptor phase (36 µL 1 M HCl) and the mass transfer was driven by the proton gradient between these phases. Other optimum conditions of the HF-LPME were 60 min extraction time at 360 rpm stirring rate and an extraction factor of 21 times (extraction efficiency 3%) was obtained. The C8 column was operated at 1 mL/min at room temperature and the UV detection wavelength was 240 nm for HPLC. The mobile phase was 10 mM sodium n-octanesulfonate (pH 3.0) mixed with acetonitrile (85:15, v/v). The relative recovery of melamine for milk samples spiked with 0.5–25 mg/kg was in the range of 89.1–120.6% with the RSDs (n = 4) of 4.0–8.5%. It was found that the proposed method provided a linear range from 0.1 to 50 mg/kg (r ²  = 0.9993), method detection limit (MDL) of 0.003 mg/kg and method quantification limit (MQL) of 0.01 mg/kg. The obtained results demonstrated that HF-LPME combined with HPLC is a simple and cheap method for the determination of melamine in fresh milk.     

Rapid Determination of Polar and Non-Polar Pesticides in Human Serum, Using Mixed-Mode C-C18 Monolithic Spin Column Extraction and LC–MS/MS

Organophosphates and carbamates are pesticides whose acute toxicities are caused by inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. A liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of 16 organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in human serum. Nonpolar and polar pesticides were simultaneously extracted from serum samples using a simple and fast monolithic spin column procedure using mixed-mode C-C₁₈ cartridges. Recovery was achieved in the range 11.9–99.2 %. Chromatography was carried out on an InertSustain^® C₁₈ HP 3 μm analytical column with gradient elution. Mass spectrometric analysis was performed using an Agilent 6410 Triple Quad Tandem mass spectrometer coupled with an electrospray ionization source in the positive ion mode. The assay was validated over a large concentration range and the limits of detection for all compounds ranged from 0.1 to 50 ng mL^?1. The precision for both intra- and inter-day determination of all analytes was found to be acceptable (< 12.9 %) and no significant matrix effect was observed. The developed method was effectively applied to clinical samples from patients presenting at hospital with symptoms of acute intentional organophosphate or carbamate poisoning, demonstrating its applicability to diagnostic applications.     

Determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in breast milk from Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil, using a modified QuEChERS method and gas chromatography-negative chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry

ABSTRACT

The food chain is the main source of exposure to humans by organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) due to the bioaccumulation. Breast milk can accumulate OCPs, so this matrix is often used as an environmental bioindicator. The currently available methods for the determination of several OCPs and metabolites in breast milk involve, in general, multi-step sample preparation and quantification techniques with low selectivity, high cost and much time and labour. Thus, a fast and efficient method based on sample preparation using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method combined with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionisation (GC-NCI-MS) was developed, validated and applied for determination of 16 OCPs and metabolites in breast milk samples. The extract was cleaned by dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) using MgSO₄ and C18, evaporated in a Turbovap® system, redissolved and analysed by GC-NCI-MS. The method was validated showing acceptable recoveries (72–118%) and precision (RSD <19%). Method limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.75 to 7.5 ng g^?1 and from 2.5 to 25 ng g^?1 lipid, respectively. The method was successfully applied to 20 samples of breast milk from different regions of the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, of which 75% contained residues below the LOQs.     

Quantitative Determination of Underivatized α-Tocopherol in Cow Milk, Vitamin and Multivitamin Drugs by GC-FID

A simple and rapid method for direct determination of α-tocopherol (α-T, vitamin E) in pharmaceutical preparations (vitamin and multivitamin tablets) and cow milk obtained from different villages of Erzurum in Turkey was developed and validated by GC-FID. Separation of underivatized α-T in pure substance, milk samples, vitamin and multivitamin tablets was performed in about 8.4 min, using an HP-5 capillary column. The range of quantification for the GC-FID was 1–30 μg mL^?1. Within-day and between-day precision (RSD %) were less than 8.5%, and accuracy (relative error) was less than 11.0% (n = 6). LOQ and LOD values were found to be 0.35 and 0.30 μg mL^?1, respectively. The developed method was applied directly and easily to the analysis of α-T in vitamin and multivitamin preparations and cow milk. RSD values were found to be 6.59% (Grandpherol soft gelatine capsule: 200 I.U.), 0.59% (Megadyn film tablet: 10 mg) and 1.54% (Supradyn drage: 10 I.U.). The developed method was also applied to cow milk samples and mean values of α-T content was found 2.99 μg mL^?1 in cow milk samples. This developed and validated GC–FID method, in conjunction with other methods, could be successfully applied for routine laboratory because of its simplicity, rapidity, sensitivity, precision and accuracy.     

Rapid Ultrasound-Assisted Emulsification Microextraction Combined with COU-2 Dispersive Micro-solid Phase Extraction for the Determination of Azole Antifungals in Milk Samples by HPLC-DAD

A rapid, simple, and efficient method using ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction combined with dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (USAE-D-µ-SPE) was developed for detection and quantification of three azole antifungals in milk samples by high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector. In this study, mesoporous carbon, COU-2, was used as sorbent in USAE-D-µ-SPE for the extraction and preconcentration of analytes. Several important experimental parameters, including type of deproteinized solvents, desorption time, type of extraction solvents, volume of extraction solvent, extraction time, emulsification time, sample pH, salt addition, and mass of COU-2 sorbent, were optimized using spiked milk samples. Under the optimum extraction and detection conditions, three azole antifungals, namely ketoconazole, clotrimazole, and miconazole, were determined within 20 min, with good linearity of matrix-matched calibration in the range of 0.5–5000.0 µg L^?1 with coefficient of determination, r ² ≥ 0.9943. The method showed limits of detection and limits of quantification of all analytes in the range of 0.15–3.0 and 0.5–10.0 µg L^?1, respectively. Good repeatability with RSDs <15% (n = 3) and satisfactory relative recoveries (83.3–111.1%) were obtained for spiked azole antifungal drugs in milk. The results reveal that the developed USAE-D-µ-SPE method was a simple, rapid, efficient, environmentally friendly, and practicable method for the determination of azole antifungals in milk samples.     

A novel method for the preconcentration and determination of ampicillin using electromembrane microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

Electromembrane extraction was used with high‐performance liquid chromatography for preconcentration and determination of ampicillin residues in cow milk. Ampicillin is transferred from an aqueous solution through a thin layer containing octan‐1‐ol, silver nanoparticles, and reduced graphene oxide which serves as a supported liquid membrane. Inside the fiber impregnated with supported liquid membrane mixture was filled 10 µL of an acceptor phase. Experimental parameters were optimized for extraction efficiency of ampicillin. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method provided acceptable linear range (2–100 µg/L), satisfactory repeatability (RSD% < 7.1), low limit of detection (0.6 µg/L), and a high enrichment factor (295) corresponding to extraction recovery of 37%. Consequently, the proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of ampicillin residues in different cow milks.     

Simultaneous Determination of Ten Antibiotic Residues in Milk by UPLC

An analytical method for rapid screening and quantitative determination of ten antibiotics (chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, metacycline, doxycycline, cefoperazone, ceftriaxone and cefaclor) residues in milk was developed using ultra performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector. After extraction with McIIvaine buffer + methanol (8 + 2), the extract was cleaned up with solid-phase extraction cartridge. The conditions of sample extraction, cleaning and separation were optimized. The average spiked recoveries of milk samples were 52.1–68.0, 70.1–81.0 and 76.2–101.0% at spiked levels of 0.1, 0.5, 2.5 μg g^?1, respectively with precisions of 3.3–15.9%. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.003–0.022 and 0.01–0.08 μg g^?1, respectively. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of antibiotics in actual milk samples with satisfactory results.     

Determination of tilmicosin residues in cow and sheep milk by liquid chromatography

This method was developed and validated to detect and quantitate tilmicosin residues in cow milk over a range of 0.010-10 microg/mL, and in sheep milk over a range of 0.025-0.5 microg/mL. The procedure involves extracting the milk sample with acetonitrile and using a C18 cartridge to perform a solid-phase extraction cleanup of the extract. A reversed-phase gradient liquid chromatography method with detection at 280 nm is used to separate the tilmicosin from matrix components in a 30 min run time. The limit of quantitation of the method is 0.010 microg/mL for cow milk, and 0.025 microg/mL for sheep milk. Average percentage recoveries for milk samples ranged from 82 to 94%. Percentage relative standard deviation values ranged from 3.1 to 17.2%.     

Development and validation of a fully automated online-SPE–ESI–LC–MS/MS multi-residue method for the determination of different classes of pesticides in drinking,ground and surface water

The present work describes a fully automated method based on online solid phase extraction–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of different classes of pesticides, including acidic and polar pesticides and six thiamethoxam metabolites. Sample preconcentration was performed by extracting 4 mL of the sample with a single styrene-divinylbenzene polymer. Elution of the compounds was done within the high performance liquid chromatography gradient and tandem mass spectrometry determination was performed in the selected reaction monitoring mode, by recording 1–3 transitions per compound. The overall pretreatment and analysis time per sample was less than 15 min. Method validation was performed in drinking, ground and surface water. For nearly all compounds a recovery between 70% and 120% could be achieved. The limit of detection ranges from 1.2 to 18 ng/L in drinking water and 3.0 to 23 ng/L in ground and surface water. The correlation coefficients for a calibration range of 0.05–2 µg/L are between 0.9915 and 0.9999. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for all compounds lies below the required limit of 0.1 µg/L, to fulfil the Council Directive 98/83/EC. Most of the compounds easily reach an LOQ below 0.05 µg/L.     

Determination of quinolone residues in infant and young children powdered milk combining solid-phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The present work describes a method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of three quinolones (pipemidic acid, oxolinic acid and flumequine) and twelve fluoroquinolones (marbofloxacin, fleroxacin, pefloxacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, danofloxacin, lomefloxacin, difloxacin, sarafloxacin, and moxifloxacin) in different infant and young children powdered milks. After suitable deproteination of the reconstituted powdered samples, a SPE procedure was developed providing recovery values higher than 84% (RSDs lower than 13%) for all the analytes, with limits of detection between 0.04 and 0.52 μg/kg. UPLC-MS/MS analyses were carried out in less than 10 min. Sixteen infant and young children powdered milk samples of different origin, type and composition bought at Spanish markets were analyzed. Residues of the selected antibiotics were not detected in any of the analyzed samples.