Rapid determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in animal-derived foods using QuEChERS d SPE EMR-Lipid combined with GC-MS/MS

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent environmental pollutants of global concern, found in the atmosphere, soil, sediments, biota, and even in human blood and breast milk. This study establishes a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method for the rapid determination of 10 PBDEs in animal-derived foods, utilizing QuEChERS dispersive solid-phase extraction (d SPE) with enhanced matrix removal for lipids (EMR-Lipid) as the sample preparation strategy. Various extraction solvents, purification techniques, and adsorbent dosages were investigated to optimize PBDE recovery. The final method involves extraction with chilled 1.5% formic acid acetonitrile, purification using Bond Elut EMR-Lipid enhanced lipid removal tubes, and quantification via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) on GC-MS/MS. The proposed method features simplicity in sample preparation, high accuracy, and satisfactory recovery, making it suitable for rapid screening and analysis of PBDEs in animal-derived foods.