Modified QuEChERS purification and Fe3O4 nanoparticle decoloration for robust analysis of 14 heterocyclic aromatic amines and acrylamide in coffee products using UHPLC-MS/MS

• Published in: Food chemistry 2019-07, Vol.285, p.77-85
• Main Authors: Xian, Yanping, Wu, Yuluan, Dong, Hao, Chen, Liwei, Zhang, Chi, Hou, Xiangchang, Zeng, Xiaofang, Bai, Weidong, Guo, Xindong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrylamide; Fe3O4 nanoparticle; Heterocyclic aromatic amines; Instant coffee; QuEChERS; Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS)
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.01.132

•First report for simultaneous analysis of HAAs and AA in coffee by UHPLC-MS/MS.•QuEChERS and nano-Fe3O4 can remove pigment, caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid.•The method with favorable robustness, sensitivity and selectivity is easy to implement.•The method is a good tool enabling detection of AA and HAAs in commercial coffee. Based on QuEChERS dispersed purification, Fe3O4 nanoparticle decoloration and UHPLC–MS/MS, a robust and sensitive method was established for simultaneous analysis of 14 heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) and acrylamide (AA) in coffee products. Sample was extracted by 90% acetonitrile water (v/v), dispersed with primary secondary amine (PSA) and further purified with Fe3O4 nanoparticle. Then, 15 analytes were detected using ESI positive ion under MRM mode. Good linearity was observed for all analytes in the range of 0.2–100 μg/L with the determination coefficients being above 0.996. Limits of detection (S/N ≥ 3) and limits of quantification (S/N ≥ 10) were in the range of 0.02–0.15 µg/L and 0.2–0.7 µg/L, respectively. The intra-day average recoveries were between 81.6% and 100%, and the intra-day precisions ranged from 4.3% to 9.0%. The inter-day average recoveries were in the range of 81.0–101% with precisions ranging from 5.0% to 7.8%. Results indicated that the combination of PSA and Fe3O4 exhibited superior purification and adsorption effects for removing pigments and acid compounds. Real samples analysis indicated that coffee products were widely contaminated with AA, harman and norharman.