Critical comparison of direct analysis in real time orbitrap mass spectrometry (DART-Orbitrap MS) towards liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for mycotoxin detection in cereal matrices

Abstract Foodstuffs contaminated by mycotoxins have been reported around the globe resulting in significant financial losses and health-threating cases due to dietary exposure. Commonly, two analytical approaches are used in mycotoxin analysis, namely screening bioanalytical methods such as immunoassays and confirmatory chromatographic analysis which are related to certain merits and challenges. In this study, to provide an alternative combining rapidness and unequivocal analyte identification, a direct analysis in real time ion source coupled to orbitrap mass spectrometry (DART-Orbitrap MS) method was developed and validated for the detection of 19 mycotoxins in cereal flour matrices. Excellent detectability expressed as the lowest calibration level (LCL) ranging between 25 μg kg−1 and 250 μg kg−1 depending on the analyte was achieved as well as satisfactory precision and trueness. To identify advantages and drawbacks of the in-house DART-Orbitrap MS method against the golden standard methods, a critical comparison towards liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high and low resolution MS was performed. DART-Orbitrap MS high throughput and rapidity was revealed while LC-MS proved its superior detectability, which is of indispensable importance for mycotoxin regulatory control. In conclusion, the developed DART-Orbitrap MS method can be applied to intensify and accelerate the monitoring of specific mycotoxins in cereal matrices.