Validation of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with LTQ orbitrap mass spectrometry for analysis of acrylamide

Acrylamide is a food contaminant that forms through a natural chemical reaction between sugars and asparagine during high-temperature cooking processes. In this work an environmentally friendly and fast routine method for the analysis of acrylamide in Sudanese foods was successfully adapted. The method is based on sample extraction in water, purification with Carrez solutions and detection with high performance liquid chromatography–linear trap quadruple-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (HPLC LTQ-Orbitrap MS). The performance of two analytical columns namely Kinetex C18 and Rezex ROA-organic acid was compared for acrylamide separation. The method was validated in term of linear range, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision (RSD%) and recovery. Good linearity (r 2 > 0.9988) was achieved using standard addition method in the concentration range 0–200 µg kg − 1 . The LOD is in the range from 3.24 to 4.66 µg kg − 1 and 2.47 to 3.94 µg kg − 1 for C18 and ROA columns, respectively. The precision of the method was ≤ 5.65% and 5.73% for C18 and ROA columns, respectively. Recoveries of acrylamide ranging from 86 to 98%, (n = 3) were obtained. It was successfully applied to the analysis of acrylamide in real food samples. Moreover, acrylamide precursors (free asparagine and reducing sugars) were analysed to show the relationship between their concentrations and acrylamide-forming potential.