Rapid determination of eight biogenic amines in air-dried yak meat by QuEChERS combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of eight biogenic amines (BAs) in air-dried yak meat was established using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) without derivatization. The conditions of UPLC–MS/MS, pH, hydration volume, extraction solvent, extraction salt, and clean-up sorbent were optimized according to the characteristics of the BAs and the sample matrix. The samples were extracted with acetonitrile, the extract was purified using primary secondary amine (PSA) and C18. The BAs were determined using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) within 5 minutes. The eight BAs exhibited good linearity, and the determination coefficient (R2) was greater than 0.995. The limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.40 to 2.50 μg/kg and from 1.25 to 7.50 μg/kg, respectively. The accuracy was between 80.3% and 109.6%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) between 0.4–9.0%. The method was applied in the detection of representative commercial samples of different processing techniques. In this method, the sample was pretreated free of derivatization and was simple, rapid, with minimum personal error, and high sensitivity. The method was assessed via GAPI and BAGI, verifying its environmental friendliness and applicability. It provides reliable methodological support for the determination of BAs in meat products.