Determination of Chloramphenicol in Honey by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry with Photodiode Array Detection

Abstract

The aim of the present work was the development, validation and implementation in routine analysis of a technique that guarantees low detection limit for chloramphenicol in honey using liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) with photodiode array (PDA) detection. Sample preparation was carried out by liquid-liquid extraction of a honey solution in phosphoric buffer (PBS, pH=7.8). The determinations were performed using a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 column and gradient mobile phase, using an electrospray ionization source (ESI) in negative ion mode. Recoveries were calculated at three concentration levels and higher values than 85% were obtained, with relative standard deviations less than 7.7%. The applicability of the present method was tested on 12 honey samples purchased from different beekeepers from Transylvania.