Quantification of TBHQ in Edible Vegetable Oil by Liquid Chromatography/Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

Liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry(LC/ITMS) was used to quantify the synthetic phenolic antioxidant tertiary butylhydroquinone(TBHQ) in edible vegetable oil.After extracted,samples were analyzed under MS and MS/MS negative ion detection modes,with the mobile phase of methanol/water(50∶50,v∶v),a column of C_(18) and electrospray ionization interface.The liner calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 61.8-4 542.5 μg/L(R~2=0.999 9),the detection limit was 48 μg/L,and the recoveries of TBHQ from ten samples were(81.9±1.9)%-(109.6±4.6)%,RSD for TBHQ in edible vegetable oil was less than 5.3%(n=10).The method presented herein could quantify TBHQ in vegetable oil quickly,conveniently and accurately.