Determination of L-ascorbic acid in milk by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry analysis

Abstract

This study provides a fast, accurate and reproducible method for L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) determination in milk samples by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). A small volume of a low toxicity organic solvent (ethanol) was used for degreasing and deproteinization steps. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) and formic acid were used as stabilizing agents. The method was successfully validated in terms of linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), accuracy, and inter/intra-day precision and applied in raw and processed milk samples. Good linearity (r2 > 0.9915) and low LOD and LOQ, 1.5 and 5.0 µg L-1, respectively, were obtained. The recoveries for 500 and 1000 µg L-1 spikes were higher than 90% and the precision values expressed in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD) were ≤ 6.8%. For the first time, the determination of L-AA in a 500 µg L-1 concentration range was reported for milk samples.