Determination of residues of quinolones in pig muscle

This paper presents the comparison between two analytical methods used for the determination of quinolones in pig muscle. The procedures involve the extraction of the quinolones from the tissues by traditional extraction and using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), a step for clean-up and preconcentration of the analytes by solid phase extraction and subsequent liquid chromatography separation with UV absorbance detection. MAE has proven to be an alternative to classical extraction to extract quinolones from pig muscle below the maximum residue limit (MRLs) established by European Community, because less interfering substances were observed and cleaner extracts were obtained and in consequence LOD and LOQ determined are slightly lower than those obtained with classical extraction.