Determination of N-carbamyl-L-glutamic acid in feedstuff by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A method was developed for the determination of N-carbamyl-L-glutamic acid (NCG) in feedstuff by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The feedstuff samples were extracted with methanol, cleaned-up by a ProElut mixed-mode of strong anion exchange inverse column (PXA). Then the samples were separated with HPLC and detected with MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode via positive electrospray ionization (ESI+). The fragment ions of m/z 148.0 and m/z 84.0 were used for qualitative analysis, and m/z 130.0 was selected for quantitative analysis. The limit of detection for NCG was 24 microg/kg (S/N > 3), and the limit of quantification was 80 microg/kg (S/N > 10). The standard calibration curve was linear over the range of 20-1,000 microg/L, and the correlation coefficient was 0. 999 9. The recoveries of NCG in feedstuff were 104.0%, 103.5%, 95.3%, at the three spiked levels of 80, 200, 500 mg/kg with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 7.5%, 6.3% and 5.8%. The results showed that the method is simple, fast, highly sensitive, specific and with good purification effect. It can be applied to the analysis and determination of NCG in feedstuff.