Dispersive micro solid phase extraction based ionic liquid functionalized ZnO nanoflowers couple with chromatographic methods for rapid determination of aflatoxins in wheat and peanut samples

Aflatoxins (AFs) contaminate agricultural products in a wide range of ways during their harvesting, storage and transport. Therefore, the detection of AFs has certain practical significance. Herein, a dispersive micro solid phase extraction (D-mu SPE) technology was constructed based on 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([HMIM][PF6]) fabricated ZnO nanoflowers for AFs extraction from food matrix before HPLC procedure. The key parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were studied. Under optimal experimental conditions, the method showed excellent linearity with high correlation coefficients (>= 0.994). LOD and LOQ were 0.034 and 0.114 mu g/kg for AFB1, 0.024 and 0.082 mu g/kg for AFB2, 0.067 and 0.226 mu g/kg for AFG1 and 0.025 and 0.084 mu g/kg for AFG2. The recovery of actual samples spiked with analytes (at 5, 15 and 20 mu g/kg) were from 93.8 to 105.1%. Overall, an accurate AFs analysis method was developed and could be applied to the determination of AFs in various food and agricultural products.

Automated summary

This article introduces a new method based on D-mu SPE technology for the extraction of aflatoxins (AFs) from food matrix before HPLC analysis, using fabricated ZnO nanoflowers and [HMIM][PF6]. The key parameters influencing the extraction efficiency were studied, and under optimal experimental conditions, the method showed excellent linearity with high correlation coefficients (≥0.994). LOD and LOQ were 0.034 and 0.114 μg/kg for AFB1, 0.024 and 0.082 μg/kg for AFB2, 0.067 and 0.226 μg/kg for AFG1, and 0.025 and 0.084 μg/kg for AFG2. The recovery of actual samples spiked with analytes (at 5, 15, and 20 μg/kg) ranged from 93.8% to 105.1%. Overall, an accurate AFs analysis method was developed and could be applied to the determination of AFs in various food and agricultural products.