Detection of Veterinary Drugs in Food Using a Portable Mass Spectrometer Coupled with Solid-Phase Microextraction Arrow

Abstract

A portable mass spectrometer (PMS) was combined with a mesoporous silica material (SBA-15) coated solid-phase microextraction (SPME) Arrow to develop a rapid, easy-to-operate and sensitive method for detecting five veterinary drugs—amantadine, thiabendazole, sulfamethazine, clenbuterol, and ractopamine—in milk and chicken samples. Equipped with a pulsed direct current electrospray ionization source and a hyperboloid linear ion trap, the PMS can simultaneously detect all five analytes in approximately 30 s using a one-microliter sample. Unlike traditional large-scale instruments, this method shows great potential for on-site detection with no need for chromatographic pre-separation and minimal sample preparation. The SBA-15-SPME Arrow, fabricated via electrospinning, demonstrated superior extraction efficiency compared to commercially available SPME Arrows. Optimization of the coating preparation conditions and SPME procedures was conducted to enhance the extraction efficiency of the SBA-15-SPME Arrow. The extraction and desorption processes were optimized to require only 15 and 30 min, respectively. The SBA-15-SPME Arrow–PMS method showed high precision and sensitivity, with detection limits and quantitation limits of 2.8–9.3 µg kg−1 and 10–28 µg kg−1, respectively, in milk. The LOD and LOQ ranged from 3.5 to 11.7 µg kg−1 and 12 to 35 µg kg−1, respectively, in chicken. The method sensitivity meets the requirements of domestic and international regulations. This method was successfully applied to detect the five analytes in milk and chicken samples, with recoveries ranging from 85% to 116%. This approach represents a significant advancement in food safety by facilitating rapid, in-field monitoring of veterinary drug residues.