Title : Towards greener extraction of mycotoxins from protein concentrates for LC–MS/MS analysis
Abstract:
The growing demand for sustainable analytical methods calls for a re-evaluation of traditional sample preparation workflows, particularly in complex matrices such as protein concentrates. This study presents the development and optimization of a greener extraction method for the determination of 11 regulated mycotoxins using Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) sample preparation for LC–ESI–MS/MS analysis in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode.
Method optimization focused on the systematic comparison of ASE parameters, including temperature, solvent composition, and formic acid concentration. Recoveries ranged from 80% to 120% for all analytes, with repeatability relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 5% for most mycotoxins. Beyond analytical performance, the greenness of the method was quantitatively evaluated using the AGREEprep tool. The green assessment score improved from 0.26, for the conventional reference procedure, to 0.57 after optimization, reflecting a substantial enhancement in solvent sustainability and overall environmental impact.
This optimized ASE–LC–MS/MS workflow demonstrates that greener analytical chemistry can be achieved without compromising method robustness or accuracy. The approach aligns with the principles of Green Analytical Chemistry, offering a more sustainable framework for monitoring mycotoxins in protein-rich food matrices and supporting future efforts to harmonize environmental responsibility with analytical performance
