Application of silanized melamine sponges in matrix purification for rapid multi-residue analysis of veterinary drugs in eggs by UPLC-MS/MS

Abstract

Fast and convenient matrix purification is an important prerequisite for high-throughput analysis of drug multiresidues in food. In this study, a silanized melamine sponge was prepared and first applied in the rapid determination of multiclass veterinary drugs in eggs by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Within five seconds, fast, convenient and efficient matrix separation could be achieved through simple soaking and squeezing. Compared to other matrix adsorbents, the developed material demonstrated equivalent or better purification performance. Good validation results were obtained in terms of drug recoveries (61.5%~97.0%, relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤ 10.8%), and linearities (R2 ≥ 0.999), as well as low limits of quantitation (0.3 ~ 10.9 μg·kg−1) and detection (0.1 ~ 3.8 μg·kg−1). By analyzing 52 egg samples, high concentrations of ofloxacin, trimethoprim, metronidazole, and dimetridazole were found at 542.9, 121.2, 66.1 and 58.0 μg·kg−1, respectively. The silanized melamine sponge has shown its great potential for rapid analysis of multiclass residues in food safety.