Determination of quinolone antibiotics in water using solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence method.

[Objective] To develop a solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence method for determination of quinolone antibiotics in water. [Method] The standard curves of four quinolones (norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin and enrofloxacin) were prepared. The detection limit in water and recovery were determined. The water samples collected from different areas, river and tap water were treated using solid-phase extraction method and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Then the concentration of quinolones antibiotics was determined by fluorescence method. [Result] The detection limit of quinolone antibiotics in water was 0.083-0.248 μg/L, and their recovery was 63.7%-134.1%. The four quinolone antibiotics at different levels were detected in various water samples, and the total concentration of quinolone antibiotics was 0.045-3.969 μg/L. The total concentration of quinolone antibiotics was higher in the water samples collected from rivers in Shenzhen area than in the sewage samples. The four quinolone antibiotics could be detected in all tap water samples. [Conclusion] The solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence method is feasible and effective to detect quinolones in water. In addition, this method needs low cost and can meet requirements of daily monitoring and analysis.