Comparative study on determination of melamine in aquatic products by LC-MS/MS

The melamine in aquatic products was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We compared the effects of retention and separation of three columns such as C18 column, cyano (CN) column and strong cation exchange and reveraed phase (CR) column. The results showed that with methanol and 5 mmol volatile ion-pair reagent perfluoroheptanoic acid as mobile phase, and with gradient elution, melamine could be separated well in C18 column. This study broadened the applications of C18 column in drug residue analysis. The method, which is cost-effective, sensitive, stable and with good reproducibility, is suitable for determining of melamine residue in aquatic products.