Optimization of a fast and sensitive method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion-LC-ms/ms for simultaneous determination of phthalates and bisphenols in mussel samples

Abstract

Bisphenols and phthalates are wide classes of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) extensively used as additives in plastic products. In this study, a fast and reliable analytical method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) coupled with LC-MS/MS was developed and optimized for simultaneous determination of 8 bisphenols and 7 phthalates in raw mussel extract. The LC-MS/MS method was tested for linearity (R²), inter- and intra-day repeatability, limit of detection and quantification, both for matrix-free and matrix-matched solutions. The MSPD method was optimized in terms of ratio between sample and sorbent, and the type and quantity of the eluents in order to maximize the recoveries and to minimize matrix effects. The obtained recoveries (values between 75% and 113%), limits of detection (values between 0.048 and 0.36 µg kg⁻¹), limits of quantification (values between 0.16 and 1.28 µg kg⁻¹), repeatability (RSD% between 1.30% and 8.41%) and linearity (R² > 0.998) were satisfactory and suitable for the determination of target micropollutants in food samples. In addition, the low solvent consumption and fast execution make this method ideal for routinely determinations of bisphenols and phthalates in mussels.

Keywords:

• Mussel
• phthalates
• bisphenols
• LC-MS/MS
• MSPD

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interest or personal relationship that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was carried out within the research project ‘SAPERLA – SMART: SAlubrità PEscato Regione LAzio: un approccio multidisciplinare per lo Sviluppo di Metodi Avanzati, Rapidi e Trasferibili per individuazione patogeni e contaminanti (Progetti di Gruppi di Ricerca 2020, Regione Lazio-Lazio Innova, Asse 1 – Ricerca e Innovazione del POR FESR Lazio 2014-2020)’ financially supported by Regione Lazio [Project number A0375-2020-36717].