Methodological approaches to quantification of bisphenols in foods by GC–MS

The paper presents the developed and validated method for quantification of six out of seven selected bisphenols in foods by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection after silylation derivatization. Sample preparation is based on extraction of analytes using QuEChERS with the following purification of extracts using SPE and concentration before chromatographic analysis. The procedure of sample preparation includes defatting using hexane and dispersive solid phase purification. Derivatization is carried out with the use of MSTFA under controlled temperature to obtain stable volatile derivatives suitable for GC–MS analysis. The quantitative characteristics of the method were obtained that included limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) for each of the studied bisphenols. For each analyte, a degree of extraction at three levels of introduction was calculated, being no less than 88%, which corroborates reproducibility and sufficient performance of the chosen scheme of sample preparation. Chromatographic conditions ensure separation of the studied bisphenols, except one critical pair, and stability of retained signals during serial analysis. For all compounds, characteristic mass spectra were obtained and ion transitions used for identification were determined. The presented method is suitable to a larger extent in research on studying factors that increase a degree of migration of bisphenols into foods. The paper presents all necessary stages for analysis of food products: detailed description of the process of sample preparation, protocol of derivatization, equipment for the GC–MS system. The process of sample preparation is designed for complex food matrices that require a high degree of purification for the following analysis.

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