Study of robustness based on n-way models in the spectrofluorimetric determination of tetracyclines in milk when quenching exists Original Research Article

An important step in the validation of an analytical procedure is the study of its robustness. In the case of spectrofluorimetric determinations, quenching introduces specific problems which are approached in this paper for the particular case of tetracyclines determination in milk. Quenching can be detected with excitation emission matrices (EEM) signals and a three-way Parallel Factor (PARAFAC) decomposition and modelled by means of a four-way PARAFAC decomposition which reproduces the physical model of this effect. The robustness of the method is evaluated by including changes in seven experimental variables: trichloroacetic acid (TCA) volume solution used in the precipitation of milk proteins, revolutions per minute, time and temperature in the centrifugation step, pH and emission–excitation slit width in the fluorimetric analyte determination and the analyst. The robustness analysis is carried out by means of a Plackett–Burman experimental design as it is suggested by European Decision 2002/657/EC (European Decision (EC) No. 2002/657/EC of 12 August 2002, implementing Council Directive 96/23/EC, concerning the performance of analytical methods and the interpretation of results, Off. J.L 221, 17/8/2002, 8). The analyte concentration will be taken as response in the Plackett-Burman experimental design instead of the signal as it is habitual in these cases. Therefore, a three-way Partial Least Squares (3-PLS) calibration models with EEM signal is needed. When an analogous study is carried out for tetracycline (TC) in the absence of chlorotetracycline (CTC) as interferent, univariate calibration is employed, being able to conclude that in the robustness analysis, different factors are significantly active when quenching exists.