Determination of bisphenol A, its chlorinated derivatives and structural analogues in vegetables by focussed ultrasound solid-liquid extraction and GC–MS/MS

Abstract

Environmental contextFollowing stringent regulations, based on environmental health concerns, for controlling the production and usage of bisphenol A, several analogues have been developed as replacement chemicals. These analogues are now found in environmental samples at similar or even higher concentrations than bisphenol A. We report a sensitive and easy-to-perform analytical method for the determination of 11 bisphenols in vegetables. AbstractIn this work, a sensitive, selective, fast and easy-to-perform method has been developed, based on focussed ultrasound solid-liquid extraction (FUSLE) and dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE), for the multiresidue determination of bisphenol A (BPA), its chlorinated derivatives (Clx-BPA) and six structural analogues (S, F, E, B, P, AF) in vegetables. Determination was carried out by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). A Box–Behnken design was used to optimise the most significant variables. Recoveries in the range from 74 to 105%, precision (relative standard deviation) lower than 12% and limits of quantification in the range from 0.05 to 1ngg−1 d.w. (dry weight) were achieved. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the compounds in carrot, turnip and potato samples purchased from a local market. BPA and Cl-BPA were found in most of the analysed samples at concentrations up to 8.91ngg−1 d.w. The analytical and operational properties of the method make it appropriate to be applied in food monitoring programs.