A new high-throughput method based on hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to determine 18 short-chain carboxylic acids in foods

Abstract

In this work, an interesting analytical method to determine 18 short-chain carboxylic acids in food samples was developed using Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS). The method was optimized through univariate and multivariate designs. The chromatographic SeQuant® ZIC®-HILIC column and mobile phase comprised of 75:25 (v/v) ACN and ammonium formate buffer (8 mmol L−1, pH 3) were selected. The analytical performance was assessed obtaining limits of quantification that varied from 0.04 to 2 mg L−1, and precision values less than 14%. Five different food samples were analyzed using calibration by standard addition with internal standard and sample preparation by dilute-and-shoot, which allowed for an efficient determination of the analytes in matrices of high complexity. In summary, the proposed method provided high-throughput, a great selectivity given by the HILIC-MS/MS system, an adequate sensitivity for the tested samples and interesting information about HILIC mechanisms for short-chain carboxylic acids as analytes and zwitterionic stationary phase.