Multiresidue analysis of 15 antibiotics in honey using modified QuEChERS and high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

Sugars, organic acids, and lipids generally cause strong matrix effects, posing a challenge in the analysis of trace substances in honey. In this study, method involving a modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) protocol coupled with high–performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) was developed for the analysis of multiresidue antibiotic in honey samples. Several adsorbents were selected and their abilities to reduce matrix interference and improve detection sensitivity were tested. Zinc oxide (ZnO) proved to be the most effective clean-up adsorbent for the purification of honey samples. Good linearity was found in the concentration range from limits of quantification (LOQs) to 20.0 ng mL–1 for all antibiotics, and for concentration up to 40.0 ng mL–1 for some types of antibiotics, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.9991. The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.24 to 0.68 μg kg–1, and the LOQs were in the range of 0.80–2.27 μg kg–1. The average recoveries ranged from 81.3 % to 99.0 % at three fortified levels with RSDs below 9.18 %. Twenty-eight honey samples obtained from local markets were analyzed using our optimized method, and lincomycin was detected in one sample.