Determination of sulfonamide residues in eggs by liquid chromatography

A method was developed for determining residual sulfonamide antibacterials such as sulfamethazine (SMZ), sulfamonomethoxine (SMM), sulfadimethoxine (SDM), and sulfaquinoxaline (SQ) in eggs using liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector. The spiked and blank samples were cleaned up by using an Ultrafree [registered trademark] -MC/PL centrifugal ultrafiltration unit. A Mightysil [registered trademark] RP-4 GP column and a mobile phase of 28% (v/v) ethanol-H2O with a photodiode array detector were used for the determination. Average recoveries from eggs spiked with each drug at 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 1.0 ppm were greater than or equal 80.9%, with relative standard deviations between 1.3 and 4.7%. The limits of quantitation were 0.060 ppm for SMZ, 0.045 for SMM, 0.044 for SDM, and 0.093 for SQ. The analysis of one sample required less than or equal 30 min and less than or equal 5 mL ethanol as solvent.