Determination of bisphenol AF (BPAF) in tissues, serum, urine and feces of orally dosed rats by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

As a homologue of bisphenol A (BPA), there is concern about the potential reproductive and developmental toxicity of bisphenol AF (BPAF) based on in vitro tests. In this study, a simple and universal analytical method was developed for the determination of trace BPAF in various tissues and excreta of rats after they were orally dosed. The samples were hydrolyzed with glucuronidase/arylsulfatase followed by ultrasonic extraction with acetonitrile. The crude extract was purified with a mixed-mode anion exchange (Oasis MAX) solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. Separation and quantification was then conducted by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS) in negative ionization mode. The recoveries at three fortification levels in different biological samples were from 71.0% to 102.3% with relative standard deviations no more than 13.2% (n = 6). The quantification limits of the method were from 0.5 μg/kg to 3 μg/kg depending on the matrix. This method was successfully applied to the determination of BPAF in tissues, serum, urine and feces of orally dosed rats.

► BPAF is a concerned endocrine disrupting compound.
► A simple and universal analytical method was firstly developed for quantification of BPAF in bio-matrices.
► It was successfully applied to the determination of BPAF in tissues, serum, urine and feces of orally dosed rats.