Optimization of Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion method for simultaneous extraction of aflatoxins and OTA in cereals and its application to commercial samples

A method based on Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion (MSPD) has been developed for the determination of 5 mycotoxins (ochratoxin A and aflatoxins B and G) in different cereals. Several dispersants, eluents and ratios were tested during the optimization of the process in order to obtain the best results. Finally, samples were blended with C18 and the mycotoxins were extracted with acetonitrile. Regarding to matrix effects, the results clearly demonstrated the necessity to use a matrix-matched calibration to validate the method. Analyses were performed by liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–QqQ-MS/MS). The recoveries of the extraction process ranged from 64% to 91% with relative standard deviation lower than 19% in all cases, when samples were fortified at two different concentrations levels. Limits of detection ranged from 0.3 ng g−1 for aflatoxins to 0.8 ng g−1 for OTA and the limits of quantification ranged from 1 ng g−1 for aflatoxins to 2 ng g−1 for OTA, which were below the limits of mycotoxins set by European Union in the matrices evaluated. Application of the method to the analysis of several samples purchased in local supermarkets revealed aflatoxins and OTA levels.