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A new approach using micro HPLC-MS/MS for multi-mycotoxin analysis in maize samples

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Abstract

Using micro high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) a simple and fast method for the quantitative determination of 26 mycotoxins was developed. Sample preparation consists of a single extraction step and a dilute-and-shoot approach without further cleanup. With a total run time of 9 min and solvent consumption below 0.3 mL per chromatographic run, the presented method is cost-effective. All toxins regulated by the European Commission with maximum or guidance levels in grain products (fumonisins B1 and B2 (FB1 and FB2)); deoxynivalenol (DON); aflatoxins B1, G1, B2, and G2 (AFB1, AFG1, AFB2, and AFG2); ochratoxin A (OTA); T-2 and HT-2 toxins; and zearalenone (ZEN) can be quantified with this method. Furthermore, the enniatins B, B1, A, and A1 (EnB, EnB1, EnA, and EnA1); beauvericin (BEA); 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-AcDON); fusarin C (FusC); sterigmatocystin (STC); gliotoxin (GT); and the Alternaria toxins alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), altenuene (ALT), tentoxin (TEN), and altertoxin I (ATX I) can also be quantified. For all regulated compounds, recoveries ranged between 76 and 120 %. For all other toxins, the recovery was at least 51 %. The method was applied for the analysis of 42 maize samples from field trials in South Africa.

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Acknowledgments

We thank AB SCIEX (Darmstadt) for supplying us with a QTRAP 5500 mass spectrometer.

Source of funding

We thank the NRW Graduate School of Chemistry for the financial support. Part of this work is based on the research supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa, Grant Number 84162.

Conflict of interest

None

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 45, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Sebastian Hickert, Johannes Gerding, Florian Hübner, Benedikt Cramer & Hans-Ulrich Humpf

  2. NRW Graduate School of Chemistry, Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 10, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Sebastian Hickert, Johannes Gerding & Hans-Ulrich Humpf

  3. ARC-Grain Crops Institute, P. Bag X1251, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa

    Edson Ncube & Bradley Flett

  4. Unit of Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa

    Bradley Flett

Authors
  1. Sebastian Hickert
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  2. Johannes Gerding
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  3. Edson Ncube
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  4. Florian Hübner
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  5. Bradley Flett
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  6. Benedikt Cramer
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  7. Hans-Ulrich Humpf
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hans-Ulrich Humpf.

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Hickert, S., Gerding, J., Ncube, E. et al. A new approach using micro HPLC-MS/MS for multi-mycotoxin analysis in maize samples. Mycotoxin Res 31, 109–115 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-015-0221-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-015-0221-y

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