Magnetic solid-phase extraction combined with UPLC-MS/MS: A novel application for the analysis of alkylphenols and...

A rapid, sensitive, simple, and accurate method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 3 alkylphenols (APs) and 11 bisphenols (BPs) in urine based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Following enzymatic hydrolysis of urine samples, corresponding isotope internal standards were added. Magnetic solid-phase extraction (M-SPE) technology was employed for separation and enrichment of analytes, followed by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Results showed that within the defined concentration ranges, calibration curves for both APs and BPs exhibited excellent linearity, with all correlation coefficients (r) >0.999. The method demonstrated excellent precision and accuracy, with intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation (CVs) < 4.4 % and 4.9 %, respectively, and recoveries ranging from 80.8 % to 107.7 %. Limits of detection (LODs) of the 14 target analytes were 0.006 ng/mL-0.6 ng/mL, and limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.02 ng/mL-2.0 ng/mL. When applied to quantify APs and BPs in urine samples, the method proved effective, demonstrating rapidity, sensitivity, simplicity, and accuracy, thus making it highly suitable for detecting APs and BPs in urine.