Simultaneous determination of 11 quinolone residues in freshwater fish samples by magnetic solid-extraction coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

In this study, well-defined core-shell ethylenediamine-functional magnetic ferroferric oxide polymers were prepared and were fully characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Then, it was used as a magnetic solid-phase extraction adsorbent for simultaneous determination of 11 trace quinolone residues in freshwater fish samples coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The obtained results revealed that the adsorbent showed good extraction efficiency and the adsorption mechanisms referred to hydrogen bond and pi-pi stacking interaction. Moreover, the magnetic solid-phase extraction conditions were also carefully optimized. The limits of quantitation of 11 quinolones were in the range of 0.15-0.36 mu g/kg, while spiking recoveries were in the range of 80.2-99.5% for the 11 quinolones in freshwater fish samples at four spiked levels including limits of quantitation, 1.0, 40.0, and 80.0 mu g/kg with the relative standard deviations ranging from 0.8 to 9.1%. The proposed method was applied to analyze 45 freshwater fish samples, and enrofloxacin was detected in 91.1% samples with concentrations ranging from 0.659 to 333 mu g/kg. It could be concluded that the proposed method is fast, simple, sensitive, and accurate for the routine monitor of freshwater fish.