UPLC–MS/MS method validation of ciprofloxacin in human urine: Application to biodegradability study in microbial fuel cell

To enable the reliable quantification of ciprofloxacin in human urine, a sensitive and selective assay based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was developed. The chromatographic separation of the ciprofloxacin was carried out on a Zorbex Eclipse C 18 column using methanol and ammonium acetate as a mobile phase by the gradient elution method. The developed assay covered a wide range of concentrations (1.56–100 ng/mL) with a lower limit of detection of 0.76 ng/mL. Quantification was performed using the multiple reaction monitoring transitions 331.8/231 for ciprofloxacin and 362/318 for ofloxacin (internal standard). This assay was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision and recovery. The validated method was then applied to the biodegradability of ciprofloxacin (99%) from human urine in the microbial fuel cell.