Methodology for Analysis of UV Filters in Tilapia Using Off-line MSPD Followed by On-line SPE–LC/UV

Abstract

A sensitive method was developed and validated for the determination of UV filters (oxybenzone, octocrylene, 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor, 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate and avobenzone) in tilapia muscle using matrix solid-phase dispersion followed by on-line solid-phase extraction–liquid chromatography/UV. The validation showed good linearity from 100 to 3600 ng g−1 with r2 values > 0.98. Precision values with relative standard deviations were < 24% for all analytes. The accuracy was evaluated with the recovery of spiked muscle samples, and it ranged between 89 and 96% for most analytes, except 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate. A positive matrix effect was observed for oxybenzone, so a matrix-matched calibration curve was used for quantitation purposes. This methodology was applied to incurred samples of fish exposed to the analytes for 3 days (100 μg L−1 each). Residual quantities of the contaminants were measured after 24, 48 and 72 h of exposure, and concentrations ranged between 400 and 2900 ng g−1. The developed method was able to quantify all of the target compounds at trace levels.