Determination of primary aromatic amines released from food paper packaging materials by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Objective To develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method for the simultaneous determination of 24 primary aromatic amines (PAAs) released from food paper packaging materials of food simulants. Methods Different food simulants were used to simulate the migration of PAAs from food paper packaging materials. The simulant migration liquid was determined directly after being filtered with a 0.22 μm membrane without any other process. The analysis of PAAs was performed on a ZORBAX-C 18 column using gradient elution with the mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile, and the mass spectrometry signal was collected by the positive electrospray ionization-MS/MS method under MRM mode for qualitative and quantitative analyses. Results The correlation coefficients (r) were 0.9902~0.9999 for the standard curve of 24 primary aromatic amines in the simulant of 50% ethanol solution (v/v), recoveries ranged from 70.30% to 97.88%, the relative standard deviations were 0.30%~9.90% and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 3.0 μg/kg or lower. Conclusion This method is simple, fast, sensitive and accurate, and can meet the requirement of the relevant limit regulations.