Preparation and application of affinity matrix to remove sulfonamides as endocrine disrupter pollutants

Antibiotics have been widely used for the prevention of animal diseases. Antibiotics cause a wide range of health problems from allergic reactions to endocrine disorders in humans and resistance development in microorganisms. As a result of their extensive use, antibiotic residues are detected in animal products as well as in the environment. Potential health risks due to the presence of antibiotic residues in food and the environment have been discussed for a long time. On the other hand, accurate determination of trace amount of the antibiotic residues is very difficult because of the complexity of the food. Therefore, preconcentration of these compounds which are in trace levels is necessary before analysis. For this purpose, a new affinity sorbent [poly (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-N-methacryloyl-L-tryptophane methyl ester) (poly(EGDMA-MATrp)], were developed by using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and N-methacryloyl-L-tryptophane methyl ester (MATrp) monomers for the extraction of sulfonamide group of antibiotics in food samples of animal origin before analysis. Poly(EGDMA-MATrp) sorbent was characterized with fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscobe (SEM), and swelling tests. Adsorption parameters (contact time, pH, initial concentration etc.) were optimized for the preconcentration of sulfamerazine in sulfonamide group. Applicability of the developed sorbent for the analysis and removal of antibiotic residues in the food samples of animal origin such as egg and milk with high performance liquid chromatography was also determined.