Received: 21 March 2020 Revised: 5 May 2020 Accepted: 5 May 2020 DOI: 10.1002/sscp.202000022 RESEARCH ARTICLE Determination of aflatoxins in rice samples after magnetic solid phase extraction using MIL-101(Cr)/magnetite nanocomposite Mohammad Bagher Sabeghi 1 Hamid Reza Ghasempour 2 Mohammad Kazem Koohi 3 Nasser Karimi 2 1 Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran 3 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Correspondence Hamid Reza Ghasempour, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. Email: ghasempourh11@gmail.com An easy and fast method named magnetic solid phase extraction was developed using a magnetite/metal–organic framework nanocomposite for extraction and quantification of four toxic aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) in rice samples. The synthesis of nanoadsor- bent was confirmed with various characterization methods. The high-performance liq- uid chromatography with fluorescence instrument was used for the subsequent analy- sis. Optimization of effective variables was conducted via experimental design strat- egy. After optimization, detection limits are obtained in the range of 0.03–0.1 ng/g and calibration plots were linear in the domain of 0.1–4.0 ng/g. Method precision was 7.3–12% (within-day precision, n = 3 sample, 0.5 ng/g; between-day precision, n = 3 day, 0.5 ng/g). The accuracy of the current method was confirmed by the official method based on the immunoaffinity column procedure. The statistical t-test analy- sis exhibited that there is no significant difference between the two methods at 95% confidence level and hence the new method is accurate. Finally, the new method was utilized for determining and extracting of the aflatoxins in rice samples. KEYWORDS aflatoxins, magnetic solid phase extraction, magnetite, rice samples 1 INTRODUCTION Aflatoxins (AFs), highly oxygenated heterocyclic mycotox- ins, are produced as secondary metabolites by the food spoilage fungi, especially Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus nomius [1]. AFs are at the cen- ter of attention owing to their drastic toxic effects on ani- mal and human health as well as their high abundance [1–3]. AFs are produced in diverse agricultural products like dried fruits, rice, nuts, and cereals [4]. Among the vari- ous AFs, AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 have been found in food and feed [5]. These compounds exhibit potency of Article Related Abbreviations: AF, aflatoxin; CCD, central composite design; FLD, fluorescence detection; IAC, immunoaffinity column; MNP, magnetite nanoparticle; MSPE, magnetic solid phase extraction; VSM, vibrating sample magnetometry. mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and toxicity in the order of AFB1 > AFG1 > AFB2 > AFG2. The International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified these AFs as Group 1 carcinogens [6]. The European Commission has reg- ulated the maximum residue levels of AFB1 as 2 ng/g and total AFs as 4 ng/g in consumed rice of human, while these values in Iranian regulations are 5 and 30 ng/g, respectively [7,8]. Thereby, various analytical methods have been utilized for monitoring and determination of these toxic compounds in various matrices including foods and feeds [8,9]. Owing to the complexity of real matrices and very low levels of AFs, appropriate sample preparation procedures are vital to elim- inate the matrix effect and to concentrate the target analytes prior to the analysis step [9]. Extraction of AFs from food samples can be performed by a water–organic solvent mixture [10–12]. Diverse meth- ods have been utilized to exclude the matrix interferences Sep Sci plus 2020;1–7. © 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim 1 www.sscp-journal.com