MSPD extraction of sulphonamides from meat followed by LC tandem MS determination

In this paper an extraction procedure is presented for sulphonamides (SAs) in animal tissues (raw meat and meat-based baby food), based on matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD). Determination was carried out using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. In complex matrices extraction is usually the critical step of analysis: several procedures were employed for the recovery of SAs in animal tissues, but often they entail time and solvent-consuming processes. MSPD has demonstrated itself to be a very efficient extraction technique for matrices such as animal tissues, with simplified and shortened procedures, and very low solvent consumption. This procedure allowed to obtain quantitative recovery, high selectivity improved by a cool eluant, and easy application. Good recoveries are accompanied by low RSDs and not a significative matrix effect. The MSPD procedure, coupled with LC-MSMS analysis, provides very interesting LODs, due also to the concentration step. Validation is carried out following the EU guidelines for confirmation methods (EU Dec. 657/02).