*Article* **Development of UHPLC/Q-TOF Analysis Method to Screen Glycerin for Direct Detection of Process Contaminants 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol Esters (3-MCPDEs) and Glycidyl Esters (GEs)**

**Lauren Girard 1, Kithsiri Herath 1, Hernando Escobar 1, Renate Reimschuessel 2, Olgica Ceric <sup>2</sup> and Hiranthi Jayasuriya 1,\***


**Citation:** Girard, L.; Herath, K.; Escobar, H.; Reimschuessel, R.; Ceric, O.; Jayasuriya, H. Development of UHPLC/Q-TOF Analysis Method to Screen Glycerin for Direct Detection of Process Contaminants 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol Esters (3-MCPDEs) and Glycidyl Esters (GEs). *Molecules* **2021**, *26*, 2449. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules 26092449

Academic Editors: Muhammad Ilias and Dhammika Nanayakkara

Received: 22 February 2021 Accepted: 9 April 2021 Published: 22 April 2021

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**Abstract:** The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA- s) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has been investigating reports of pets becoming ill after consuming jerky pet treats since 2007. Renal failure accounted for 30% of reported cases. Jerky pet treats contain glycerin, which can be made from vegetable oil or as a byproduct of biodiesel production. Glycidyl esters (GEs) and 3-monochloropropanediol esters (3-MCPDEs) are food contaminants that can form in glycerin during the refining process. 3-MCPDEs and GEs pose food safety concerns, as they can release free 3-MCPD and glycidol in vivo. Evidence from studies in animals shows that 3-MCPDEs are potential toxins with kidneys as their main target. As renal failure accounted for 30% of reported pet illnesses after the consumption of jerky pet treats containing glycerin, there is a need to develop a screening method to detect 3-MCPDEs and GEs in glycerin. We describe the development of an ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight (UHPLC/Q-TOF) method for screening glycerin for MCPDEs and GEs. Glycerin was extracted and directly analyzed without a solid-phase extraction procedure. An exact mass database, developed in-house, of MCPDEs and GEs formed with common fatty acids was used in the screening.

**Keywords:** UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis; glycerin; process contaminants; 3-monochloropropane-1,2 diol esters; glycidyl esters
