Determination of cyanuric acid in milk and milk powder by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A method for the determination of cyanuric acid (CYA) in milk and milk powder was developed using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI MS/MS). The target analyte was extracted from samples by acetonitrile, and the proteins were precipitated at the same time. The supernatant was cleaned up and enriched with a strong anion exchange column, analysed by HPLC-MS/MS with an AX column, and quantified by internal standard method. Good linearity was obtained in the range of 50-2000 microg/L. The recoveries were all ranged from 97% to 121% at three levels, 200, 500 and 1000 microg/kg, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were all below 4.8%. Limit of quantification (LOQ) was 200 microg/kg. The method has high accuracy and precision, the operation is fast, easy and suitable for the determination of CYA in milk and milk powder.