Method development and validation for simultaneous quantification of microcystin congeners in water

Abstract Background Microcystins (MCs) are secondary metabolites of cyanobacteria that hepatotoxic to humans through the ingestion cyanobacteria-contaminated water and accidental inhalation from lake activities. MCs with diverse congeners in can be precisely quantified using online solid-phase extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (online-SPE UPLC–MS/MS). A method was developed validated simultaneously quantify eight different (microcystin-RR, -LR, -YR, -WR, -LA, -LF, -LY, -LW) online-SPE UPLC–MS/MS. Results The achieved highest efficiency sensitivity by selecting acetonitrile 0.1% formic acid as best mobile phase conditions. linearity, accuracy, precision were matrix-mixed a leucine enkephalin internal standard. limit detection (LOD) calculated signal-to-noise ratio three passes daily water-surface inspection for MCs. This showed both high resolution separation MC LODs ranging 0.020 0.371 ng L –1 limits quantitation 0.066 1.24 . time reduced 11 min. Except MC-RR (58.8% recovery at concentration) MC-WR (45.1% 40.9% recoveries medium concentrations, respectively), other ranged 70 135%, relative standard deviation less than 10%. Conclusion Eight 12 samples collected Chaohu Lake, China, analyzed. sum all range 101 585 (less World Health Organization’s safe drinking 1 μg MC-LR).