Fast determination of 14 mycotoxins in chestnut by dispersive solid‐phase extraction coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A dispersive solid-phase extraction coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of T-2 toxin, penicillic acid, fumonisins B1 , B2 , and B3 , aflatoxins B1 , B2 , G1 , and G2 , ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, and zearalenone in chestnut samples. The method was used to analyze 136 samples obtained from Shandong province in China. The mycotoxins were extracted using a dispersive solid-phase extraction method and cleaned using an improved quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe approach. The mycotoxins were then detected using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.02 to 1 and 0.1 to 2μg/kg, respectively. The recovery rates ranged from 74.2 to 109.5%, with relative standard deviations below 15%. A total of 71 samples were contaminated with seven mycotoxins at concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 105.5μg/kg, with a number of samples exceeding the maximum limits set in the European regulations for mycotoxins in unprocessed chestnuts.