Use of a modified QuEChERS method for the determination of mycotoxin residues in edible nuts by nano flow liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry

• Published in: Food chemistry 2019-05, Vol.279, p.144-149
• Main Authors: Alcántara-Durán, Jaime, Moreno-González, David, García-Reyes, Juan F., Molina-Díaz, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arachis - chemistry; Arachis - metabolism; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - methods; Edible nuts; High resolution mass spectrometry; Mass Spectrometry; Matrix effect; Mycotoxins; Mycotoxins - analysis; Mycotoxins - isolation & purification; Nanoflow liquid chromatography; Nanotechnology; Nuts - chemistry; Nuts - metabolism; Pistacia - chemistry; Pistacia - metabolism; Prunus dulcis - chemistry; Prunus dulcis - metabolism; QuEChERS; Solid Phase Extraction
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.11.149

•Evaluation of EMR-lipid as dSPE sorbent for QuEChERS methodology.•EMR-lipid and conventional mixture of dSPE sorbents were compared.•Signal suppression was negligible in all cases using nanoflow LC-MS, EMR-lipid and high dilutions.•The lowest concentration levels detected are in the low μg kg−1 range. A nanoflow liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry method for the quantification of mycotoxins in nuts has been developed. Two strategies based on QuEChERS methodology were evaluated. Thus, EMR-lipid was compared with a conventional mixture of PSA and C18 dispersive solid phase extraction sorbents which have been commonly used in this type of matrices as sample clean-up. The results showed that the use of EMR-lipid reduced more effectively matrix components, achieving a negligible matrix effect for all mycotoxins studied in peanut, pistachio and almond. The proposed method was validated in line with SANTE guidelines using EMR-Lipid as dispersive solid phase extraction sorbent. The lowest concentration level were between 0.05 and 5 μg kg−1, being lower than the maximum levels established by the current legislation. Recovery rates ranged from 75% to 98% was obtained in all sample studied, achieving also satisfactory precision with RSD values lower than 19% in all cases.