Solvent Front Position Extraction and some conventional sample preparation techniques for the determination of coccidiostats in poultry feed by LC-MS/MS

Abstract

Solvent Front Position Extraction is a novel technique developed for effective sample preparation of biological samples containing coccidiostats prior to LC-MS/MS. In this study the technique was used for isolation and determination of seven coccidiostats, from both main groups being: ionophores and chemical coccidiostats. Its effectiveness was evaluated by comparing with other sample preparation procedures, used in European routine laboratories. Results obtained by Solvent Front Position Extraction were very satisfactory (linearity R² ≥ 0.971, recovery 90.1-111.1%, RSDr: 8.7-16.6%, RSD_R: 9.0-17.7%) and fulfilled requirements described in Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/808 of 22 March 2021, which showed great potential of the technique in sample preparation of coccidiostats in poultry feed.

Figure 1

Steps of sample preparation by Solvent Front Position Extraction—explanation in the text. The dashed lines mark the path of the pipette delivering the eluent, the arrows indicate the directions of the eluent migration. 1—pipette delivering the eluent, 2—starting spots of the samples, 3—matrix components of higher retention than the substances of interest, 4—the zone of substances of interest (coccidiostats), 5—the low retention matrix components, 6—TLC-MS Interface head. Stationary phase: HPTLC Silica gel.