Detection of melamine in infant formula and grain powder by surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

• Authors: HSIEH Yi-Ting; CHEN Wen-Tsen; TOMALOVÁ Iva; PREISLER Jan; CHANG Huan-Tsung
• Year of publication: 2012
• Type: Article in Periodical
• Magazine / Source: Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
• MU Faculty or unit: Central European Institute of Technology
• Web: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rcm.6238/abstract;jsessionid=04DA26CB9CF54ABD25D35FC3AED0E339.d03t01
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6238
• Field: Analytic chemistry
• Keywords: Melamine; Gold Nanoparticles; SALDI MS
• Description: We have developed a method for the determination of melamine (MEL), ammeline (AMN), and ammelide (AMD) by surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). The major peaks for MEL, AMN, and AMD at m/z 127.07, 128.05, and 129.04 are assigned to the [MEL + H]+, [AMN + H]+, and [AMD + H]+ ions. Because the three tested compounds adsorb weakly onto the surfaces of the Au NPs through Au–N bonding, they can be easily concentrated from complex samples by applying a simple trapping/centrifugation process. The SALDI-MS method provides limits of detection of 5, 10, and 300 nM for MEL, AMN, and AMD, respectively, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The signal variation for 150-shot average spectra of the three analytes within the same spot was 15%, and the batch-to-batch variation was 20%. We have validated the practicality of this approach by the analysis of these three analytes in infant formula and grain powder. This simple and rapid SALDI-MS approach holds great potential for screening of MEL in foods.

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