Multi-residue determination of biocides in dairy products and slurry feed using QuEChERS extraction and liquid chromatography combined with high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QOrbitrap™-MS).

ABSTRACT

Given that the determination of biocides in food and feed is currently not routinely done, more information on these compounds is useful for consumer's safety. This work describes a sensitive and reliable method for quantitative analysis of a wide range of biocides in dairy products and slurry feed. The method comprises acetate-buffered QuEChERS extraction without clean-up. Analyses were performed by LC-Q-Orbitrap™-MS and a full-scan acquisition event without fragmentation was followed by five fragmentation events (data-independent acquisition-DIA). The quantitative validation was performed according to SANTE/11312/2021 at 10, 50 and 200 ng g-1 spiking levels, and the results showed that the vast majority of the compounds met the criteria for trueness and precision. The LOQ was 10 ng g-1 for the majority of biocides depending on the matrix. The method was successfully applied to quantify biocides in dairy products and feed.