The matrix-matched calibration curve was linear within the
concentration range tested (r2 > 0.997).
Although detection and quantification limits in mineral oil analysis
are closely related to the molecular weight distribution of the
contamination (width of the ‘‘hump”), an approximate estimation
of these limits was made by considering 3 and 10 times the
signal-to-noise ratio, respectively. A LOD of 0.03 mg kg1 and a
LOQ of 0.1 mg kg1 of food sample was obtained when processing
5 g of sample with 10 mL of hexane and concentrating 5 mL of the
extract to 1 mL before injection (100 lL).
Method selectivity was verified by analysing uncontaminated
samples with MAS and verifying the absence of artefacts with