Analysis of fumonisin B1 and B2 in beer and raw materials of beer by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple method for analysis of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fumonisin B2 (FB2) in beer and raw materials of beer using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was developed. Samples were prepared and purified by using solid-phase extraction columns (SAX). The LC separation was performed with an octadecylated silica column at a flow-rate of 0.2 mL/min, using a mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile. MS/MS was used in multiple reaction monitoring, employing electrospray ionization (ESI-MRM). Recoveries of spiked FB1 and FB2 from beer were 64% and 52%, respectively, at the level of 5 microg/kg. Recoveries of spiked FB1 and FB2 from malt, cornstarch, and corn grit, at the level of 50 microg/kg, were 87.9% and 86.4%, 89.5% and 87.9%, 86.6% and 81.1%, respectively. This method may have applications in quality assurance.