Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction for the Determination of Emerging Fusarium Mycotoxins in Water

A new method was optimized for the determination of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins enniatins (ENs) and beauvericin (BEA) in different types of water. Mycotoxin analysis was performed by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Mycotoxins were efficiently extracted from water into carbon tetrachloride by DLLME technique using acetonitrile as disperser solvent. Detection limits were in the range of 0.06-0.17 mu g L-1. Quantification was performed using matrix-matched calibration curves over a linear range from limit of quantification (LOQ) to 200 mu g L-1. Acceptable recoveries were obtained between 78.5 and 100.1 % with relative standard deviations of < 14 %. The proposed method may be advised as an easy, sensitive, and accurate method for determining emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in water. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of different kinds of water. No detectable levels were achieved in surface, ground, tap, and bottled water. Concentration levels up to 50 mu g L-1 were detected in cooking water related to the pasta cooking process.