A new derivatization approach with d-cysteine for the sensitive and simple analysis of acrylamide in foods by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

• New novel derivatization method of acrylamide with low hazard agent, cysteine.
• A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric parameters were optimized.
• The method to reduce solvents use in extraction.
• A simple and rapid trace analytical method of acrylamide.
• Highly accurate and precise analytical method of acrylamide.

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method (LC–MS/MS) was developed in order to determine the amount of acrylamide in foods after derivatization with d-cysteine. The sulfhydryl group of d-cysteine was added at the β-site double bond of acrylamide to form 2-amino-3-(3-amino-3-oxo-propyl)sulfanyl-propanoic acid. Deuterated acrylamide (acrylamide-d3) was chosen as the internal standard (IS) for analyzing the food samples. Acrylamide was extracted from 2.0 g of food sample with 6 mL of methylene chloride, and the organic extract was diluted with 3 mL of hexane, and then the analyte was back-extracted with 0.5 mL of pure water. The derivatization of acrylamide was performed in the water extract. The best reaction conditions (3.0 mg of d-cysteine, a pH 6.5, a reaction temperature of 90 °C, and a heating time of 50 min) were established by the variation of parameters. The formed derivative was injected into the LC–MS/MS without further extraction or purification procedures. Separation and detection were improved with the use of an ion-pairing reagent of perfluorooctanoic acid. Under the established conditions, the limits of detection and the limits of quantification were 0.04 μg/kg and 0.14 μg/kg, respectively, and the inter-day relative standard deviation was less than 8% at concentrations of 20 and 100 μg/kg. The method was successfully applied to determine the amount of acrylamide in potato chips, French fries, and coffee.