Simultaneous determination of four mycotoxins in maize by quadrupole-orbitrap LC-MS

Abstract

A method for simultaneous determination of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ), fumonisin B1 (FB1 ), zearalenone (ZEA), and ochratoxin A (OTA) in corn was established by ultra high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-Orbitrap (UHPLC Q-Orbitrap) . Firstly, the extraction method, extraction time, and extraction solvent were optimized, and the matrix effect of corn substrate on four kinds of mycotoxins and the purification effect of low temperature and high-speed centrifugation was studied, and then the method was verified. This method was compared with QuEChERS pretreatment methods. Results showed that low-temperature and high-speed centrifugation could effectively remove the signal inhibition of corn matrix to AFB1 , and could achieve good quantitative results for four kinds of mycotoxins. The recovery rate of adding low concentration and high concentration was between 90% and 105%, and the relative standard deviation was 0. 7% and 2. 2% . The method had good accuracy and precision. The linear correlation coefficient of the four mycotoxins was R2 > 0. 99. The quantitative limit was in the range of 0. 42 - 314 μg / kg. This method can achieve the same detection effect as QuEChERS and has obvious advantages for the simultaneous detection of mycotoxins containing FB1 . It is an economical and efficient method for the analysis of multiple toxins in grains.