To establish an analytical method for the detection of 11 kinds of preservatives content in short-shelf-life fruits by QuEChERS combined with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The samples were extracted with methanol, and 2.0 mL of the extract was transferred to a purification tube containing 100 mg of N-primary secondary amine (PSA) and 100 mg of C₁₈ powder. After vortex mixing for 1 min and centrifugation at 4500 r/min for 5 min, the supernatant was passed through a 0.22 μm organic microporous membrane. The sample was analyzed in multiple reaction monitoring mode using electrospray negative and postive ionization mode.

The results demonstrated good linearity for all 11 kinds of preservatives within their respective concentration ranges, with correlation coefficients (r) exceeding 0.99. The method exhibited limits of detection of 0.003–0.015 mg/kg and limits of quantitation of 0.01–0.05 mg/kg. For recovery studies in bayberry, mulberry and strawberry matrices at 3 spiked mass concentration levels, the average recoveries ranged from 76.4% to 98.9%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.5%–9.8%. When applied to 20 batches of bayberry, mulberry and strawberry samples, natamycin was detected in 2 batches of mulberries and one batch of bayberries, with concentrations ranging from 4.5 to 11.9 mg/kg.

The method is simple, highly sensitive, and enables rapid determination of multiple preservatives, providing technical support for the simultaneous monitoring and evaluation of various preservatives in short-shelf-life fruits.