DETERMINATION OF 8 TRICHOTHECENES BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY AFTER SAMPLE CLEANUP BY A 2-STAGE SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION

A method is described for the determination of eight trichothecenes of type A and B in a variety of complex matrices including heavily mould ed and pigmented cereals, whole cereal ears, cereal-based foods, mixed feeds and faeces from swine. Trichothecenes were determined as their trifluoroacetyl derivatives by gas chromatography with ion-trap mass s pectrometry detection operating in chemical ionization mode. Isobutane was chosen as reactant gas and optimum parameters of measurement were determined. For sample preparation a clean-up procedure was developed using a combination of Florisil and cation-exchange cartridges for so lid-phase extraction. Limits of detection and quantification as well a s recoveries are described. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.