Tairo Ogura

This article evaluates ASTM D7979-16 for the “direct” analysis of 30 PFCs and 19 mass-labeled surrogates. Instead of using solid-phase extraction, the PFCs were solubilized in a methanol–water mix and filtered if necessary, and the sample was injected into a LC–MS/MS system.

Aflatoxins are poisonous and carcinogenic chemicals that occur in nature in soil, hay, and grains. When contaminated food is processed, aflatoxins can enter the general food supply chain and can be dangerous for humans and animals. Time- and cost-efficient analytical methods can ensure food safety. Compared to conventional manual methods the use of “supercritical” CO2 for supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) as well as chromatographic separation (supercritical fluid chromatography [SFC]) of aflatoxins offers a more efficient process while reducing solvent consumption.