Ultrasonic extraction of veterinary antibiotics from soils and pig slurry with SPE clean-up and LC–UV and fluorescence detection

Abstract

A simple and rapid analytical method is presented in which the three veterinary antibiotics oxytetracycline (OTC), sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) and tylosin (TYL) are simultaneously extracted and determined in four different soils. Extractions were carried out by a combination of ultrasonic agitation and vortex mixing using a mixture of methanol, EDTA and McIlvaine buffer at pH 7 as the extractant solution. The extracts were then cleaned-up by a tandem solid phase extraction (SPE) method using an Isolute SAX anion exchange cartridge to remove natural organic matter and an Oasis HLB polymeric cartridge to retain the study compounds. Analysis was by HPLC–UV with additional fluorescence detection for SCP. Recoveries were in the range 68–85% for SCP in all soil types, 58–75% for OTC in sandy soils, 27–51% for OTC in clay containing soils, 74–105% for TYL and 47–61% in a clay soil. OTC and SCP were also extracted from liquid pig manure using a mixture of EDTA and McIlvaine buffer at pH 7 with ultrasonic agitation and vortex mixing with SPE clean-up and HPLC–UV analysis. Recoveries were greater than 77% and 58% for OTC and SCP, respectively. Limits of detection were 18 μg kg −1 for OTC and SCP and 40 μg kg −1 for TYL in soils and 70 μg L −1 for OTC and 140 μg L −1 for SCP in pig slurry.