An aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) based on short chain alcohol and salt was the method for preconcentration, separation and analysis of chloramphenicol (CAM), coupled with high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet-visible detector (HPLC-UV). In order to select the suitable ATPS for CAM extraction, different ATPSs were tested and n-propanol/potassium citrate ATPS was chosen for separating and concentrating CAM in the subsequent experiments. The influences of the salt concentration, pH and the volume of n-propanol on the extraction efficiency and partition coefficient of CAM were examined. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the experimental conditions. Under the optimal conditions, this method has been applied to quantitative determination of CAM in livestock meat samples with limit of detection of 0.48 ng g-1 and limit of quantification of 1.6 ng g-1 with a recovery range of 92.39-104.12%. This ATPS used low cost of organic solvents and supplied a moderate and biocompatible environment, which is suitable for biomolecules.
HPLC; aqueous two-phase system; extraction; chloramphenicol; livestock meat; ATPS
