Supercritical fluid extraction in situ derivatization for simultaneous determination of chloramphenicol, florfenicol and thiamphenicol in shrimp

The applicability of supercritical fluid extraction in situ derivatization was investigated for determination of trace amounts of amphenicols (chloramphenicol, florfenicol and thiamphenicol) in shrimp. Quantification was performed by using electron-capture negative chemical ionisation-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (NCI–GC/MS). The parameters of supercritical fluid extraction (addition of modifier, temperature, pressure, extraction time and extraction mode) and in situ derivatization (collection solvent and derivatization reagent) were varied with control. The optimum extractions were obtained using 600 μL ethyl acetate as a modifier for supercritical carbon dioxide with static extraction for 5 min, then dynamic extraction for 10 min at 25 MPa and 60 °C. The conditions for in situ derivatization were 200 μL N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide containing 1% trimethylchlorosilane in 20 mL ethyl acetate as collection solvent. The new method of supercritical fluid extraction in situ derivatization was found to be linear over the concentration range of 20–5000 pg/g, with detection limits ranging from 8.7 to 17.4 pg/g (using the selective ion monitoring mode), with a R.S.D. (relative standard deviation) less than 15.3% (n = 5). Analysis of spiked shrimp samples revealed that matrix had little effect on extraction. The results presented here indicate that supercritical fluid extraction in situ derivatization is for the trace analysis of amphenicol bacteriostats in shrimp samples.