Development a simple and rapid HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS method for determination of short- and medium- chain chlorinated paraffins in human serum

Abstract

This study established a simple and rapid method for simultaneous determination of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) in human serum by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electron spray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS). A simple pretreatment procedure of protein precipitation by acetonitrile coupled with liquid-liquid extraction by n-hexane was employed for extraction and purification. The purified samples were separated by a PFP chromatographic column. This method could effectively eliminate the matrix effect by lipids and other matrix substances in serum samples with less time and solvent consuming. 76 congener groups of SCCPs and MCCPs with C10-C17 and Cl5-Cl13 were quantified by their [M-H]− ions. Method detection limit (MDL) were 1.0–8.0 ng mL−1 for ∑SCCPs and ∑MCCPs. Recoveries were 98.4 ± 4.42%, 98.8 ± 3.96% and 90.7 ± 2.79% for SCCPs and 93.1 ± 6.67%, 108 ± 1.21% and 90.8 ± 3.78% for MCCPs at spiking concentrations of 20, 50 and 200 ng·mL−1, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra- and inter-day variations were 1.41% and 9.84% for SCCPs, and 4.23% and 6.26% for MCCPs. The suitability of the developed method was demonstrated through the application to analysis of SCCPs and MCCPs in human serum samples.