Development of an analysis method for determination of residues and metabolites of sulfonamides in baby foods by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry

In this study, a new method was developed for the analysis of the residues and their metabolites of 17 sulfonamides in baby foods by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. All analytes were extracted using ASE and QuEChERS extraction. The developed method was validated to test the reliability of the analyses. Solvent composition, temperature, flush volume, number of cycles and static time were optimized in ASE to obtain the highest yield. QuEChERS extraction was performed according to standard method of AOAC. The optimum conditions were determined in terms of composition of the mobile phase, flow rate, column temperature and injection volume in liquid chromatography. Sheat and auxiliary gas flow rates, capillary and heater temperatures and spray voltage were optimized to detect the analytes in high selectivity and sensitivity in mass spectrometry. Linearity, dynamic range, selectivity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, accuracy and precision were determined in method validation. As a result, compared with QuEChERS extraction, recovery rates for all analytes were higher in ASE system and the optimized ASE procedure provided better repeatability and reproducibility values. The results obtained with method validation showed that this method was suitable for determination of trace amount of the analytes with high selectivity, accuracy and precision.