Simultaneous quantification of A-trichothecene mycotoxins in grains using liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

An approach for simultaneous determination of the main type A-trichothecenes by liquid chromatography and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry is described. Parameters for coupling of LC-MS such as cone voltage, nebulizing temperature and the LC flow-rate, were optimized to provide detection of mycotoxins with maximum sensitivity. Furthermore, the effects of cone voltage and temperature on the fragmentation pattern of the tested toxins were studied. Main type A-trichothecenes such as T-2 Toxin, HT-2 Toxin, acetyl T-2 Toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, monoacetoxyscirpenol (15-acetoxyscirpenol) and neosolaniol were separated on a reversed-phase narrow bore C, column, using a linear gradient and a flow-rate of 0.3 ml/min. Mass spectra were obtained in positive ion mode for confirmation and quantitation. The method involves extraction and purification of toxins by using multifunctional Mycosep columns. Deuterated T-2 Toxin was used as an internal standard. A linear working range between 80 and 500 mug/kg in matrix with an acceptable correlation coefficient was observed. The developed method was validated by using a blank oats sample. The detection limit in the matrix was found to be between 50 and 85 mug/kg in selected ion mode for all tested A-trichothecenes. Recovery data were found to be between 77 and 101%. Within run and day-to-day precision were determined as having comparable levels to those found using GC methods. Furthermore, the matrix effect was investigated by comparing the internal standard versus the external standard method in quantification studies. In addition, the developed method was applied for the analysis of naturally contaminated oats, maize, barley and wheat samples. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.