Determination of the Fluoroquinolone Enrofloxacin in Edible Chicken Muscle by Supercritical Fluid Extraction and Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection

A supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method for the extraction of enrofloxacin from a chicken breast muscle was examined. A liquid chromatograph, equipped with a fluorescence detector, was used for the detection of enrofloxacin. Optimal extraction parameters, such as extraction time, supercritical fluid volume, modifier concentration, pressure, and temperature, were determined by examining SFE recoveries from control muscle samples spiked with enrofloxacin at different levels. In all of the experiments, high recovery values were observed, ranging from 101 to 104%. The extraction of enrofloxacin from real muscle samples was examined in chickens that were treated orally with enrofloxacin. Extraction was carried out by the SFE method after each oral treatment and under optimal extraction conditions at set intervals over time. The SFE, combined with liquid chromatographic analysis, showed that the concentration of enrofloxacin in the chicken muscles decreased continuously with time, giving a negligible concentration 72 h after the treatment. These results suggest that SFE is a useful approach for the extraction of enrofloxacin from chicken breast muscles. Keywords: Enrofloxacin; fluoroquinolones; supercritical fluid extraction