Determination of macroline and tetracyclines group in water by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Abstract

Antibiotics are contaminants at low concentrations and found in water with the range of ng/L. Determination of antibiotics at trace concentrations requires modern and high accuracy equipment. Liquid chromatography mass tandem spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) able to determine contaminants at ppt and ppb levels, which is suitable for quantification of the macrolide and tetracycline group in water. The Analytical method using Agilent Triple Quard 6460 LC-MS/MS system with positive ion mode. Agilent XDB C18 column (1.8 µm × 2.1 × 100 mm) and Agilent Eclipse SDB C18 pre-column (2.1 × 5 mm × 1.8 µm) were used. Mobile phase was acetonitrile and HCOOH 0.1%. Samples were cleaned with Oasis PRiME HLB 3cc SPE column (150 mg). The method was evaluated based on specificity, recovery, repeatability and estimation of the uncertainty. The method detection limit (MDL) for the analytes is 0.03 µg/L. Recovery ranges from 85.23 -117.70%; repeatability (RSDr) is between 2.20% and 12.45%.