A novel and simple method for detecting 16 sulfonamides (SAs) in animal feed using high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a photo-diode array detector (HPLC/PDA) and immunoaffinity chromatography was developed. The chromatographic peaks of the 16 SAs were successfully identified by comparing their retention times and UV spectra with reference standards. Method validation was performed with linearity, sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and precision. The limits of detection (LODs) for the instrument used to study sulfonamides ranged from 14.1 to 45.0 μg/kg, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 46.9 to 150.0 μg/kg. Average recoveries of the 16 SAs ranged from 78.2% to 105.2%. Method replication resulted in intraday and interday peak area variation of <5.5%. The developed method was specific and reliable and is suited for the routine analysis of SAs in animal feed.
Keywords: Animal feed; Immunoaffinity chromatography; Sulfonamide.
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