A new multistep purification method for simultaneously determining organic ultraviolet absorbents in fish tissue.

More information is required to improve our understanding of the presence of organic ultraviolet absorbents (UVAs) in organisms and the risks posed to biota. Effective removal of lipids in the determination of UVAs in biological samples is a sample-processing bottleneck. In this study, we optimized a multistep purification method for fish tissue samples extracted using an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method. The purification method involved performing Florisil column chromatography, redissolving the extract in ethanol, and then performing dispersive solid-phase extraction using primary and secondary amine, Florisil, and C18 silica sorbents. The purified samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method was effective and reliable, and was used to detect trace concentrations (ng/g) of 12 UVAs in fish tissue samples. The mean recovery range of the UVAs in fish tissue extracts was 65.4-118%, and the method detection limit range was 0.20-2.50 ng/g dw. The validated method was used to analyze 12 UVAs in fish samples from a local supermarket.