Determination of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Fish Feed by QuEChERS and GCxGC-TOF MS

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are organic pollutants widely used as flame retardants in various products. Due to their stability and lipophilic nature, PBDEs tend to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms, raising concerns about their presence in aquaculture products. In this study, a sensitive and reliable analytical method was developed for the determination of PBDEs in fish feed using a modified QuEChERS extraction followed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF MS). Method optimization and validation were carried out using spiked samples. The procedure yielded satisfactory recoveries. Limits of detection ranged between 0.03 and 0.40 ng/g, while linearity was excellent. The results confirm the method’s robustness and suitability for future application in routine analysis of PBDEs in fish feed and related matrices. This work contributes to improving food safety monitoring in aquaculture by enabling the trace-level determination of flame retardants in complex sample matrices.