Abstract:

A method using sonication-assisted extraction for quantitatively determining benzoic acid in foods was
established by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) with large-volume online derivatization
samples were extracted with acetonitrile, and then centrifugated. The supernatant was added with tetrabutylammonium
hydrogen sulfate (TBAHS) as a derivatization reagent while magnetic stirring. The method used gas chromatography
with ChromatoProbe for on-line derivatization to improve sensitivity. Analysis was performed on a DB-5MS capillary
column supplemented with GC-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. The calibration curves of the analyte revealed a
good linear relationship over the range of 0.50–10.0 μg/mL (r = 0.9976). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit
of quantitation (LOQ) of the developed method were 12.8 ng/mL and 42.7 ng/mL, respectively. This method has
the advantages of convenient operation, no need for purification, high sensitivity, excellent accuracy and good
reproducibility and thus, is suitable for the determination of benzoic acid in food samples.

Key words: benzoic acid, gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS), online derivatization, tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TBAHS), sonication-assisted extraction