Rapid determination of hexabromocyclododecane enantiomers in animal meat by matrix solid phase dispersion coupled with LC-MS/MS

Abstract

A rapid and sensitive method was developed based on matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) for the determination of hexabromocyclododecane enantiomers (±α, ±β and ± γ-HBCD) in animal meat. The instrumental analysis was employed with liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) at trace level (ng g^-1). To obtain excellent efficiency, the key parameters, including the type of dispersive adsorbent and elution solvent, were investigated by single-factor experiments. The volume of elution solvent and amount of dispersive adsorbent were optimized by the Box-Behnken design through response surface methodology. Under optimized conditions, the developed method exhibited excellent methodologic characteristics and was applied to the determination of HBCD enantiomers in real chicken and pork meat. Experimental results indicated that the proposed method would be an efficient, rapid and application method for the determination of lipophilic organic pollutants in animal meat.

Keywords: Animal meat; Hexabromocyclododecane enantiomers; LC–MS/MS; Matrix solid phase dispersion; Response surface methodology.