Multiresidue analysis of plant growth regulators in grapes by triple quadrupole and quadrupole-time of flight-based liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

A selective and sensitive LC-MS/MS method is presented for simultaneous determination of 12 plant growth regulators, viz., indol-3-acetic acid, indol-3-butyric acid, kinetin, zeatin, 6-benzyl aminopurine, gibberellic acid, abscisic acid, chlormequat chloride, forchlorfenuron, paclobutrazole, daminozide, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, in bud sprouts and grape berries. The sample preparation method involved extraction of homogenized sample (5 g) with 40 mL methanol (80%), and final determination was by LC-MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with time segmentation for quantification supported by complementary analysis by quadrupole-time of flight (Q-TOF) MS with targeted high-resolution MS/MS scanning for confirmatory identification based on accurate mass measurements. The recovery of the test compounds ranged within 90-107% with precision RSD less than 5% (n = 6). The method could be successfully applied in analyzing incurred residue samples, and the strength of accurate mass analysis could be utilized in identifying the compounds in cases where the qualifier MRM ions were absent or at an S/N less than 3:1 due to low concentrations.     

液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱法快速测定草莓中6种植物生长调节剂的残留量

建立了高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间串联质谱(HPLC-Q TOF MS)快速检测草莓中2,4-滴、对氯苯氧乙酸、3-吲哚丁酸、氯吡脲、脱落酸、玉米素6种植物生长调节剂的分析方法。样品采用QuEChERS方法(Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe method)进行前处理(乙腈提取,C18吸附剂净化),采用Eclipse XDB-C8色谱柱(150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm),以乙腈-5 mmol/L乙酸铵-0.1%(v/v)甲酸水溶液为流动相,梯度洗脱,Q TOF MS电喷雾负离子模式分析检测。在全扫描采集模式下,以准分子离子峰的峰面积定量,以化合物的精确质量数定性。在Target MS/MS采集模式下,通过碎片离子的精确质量数进一步确证化合物。各化合物在0.005～1.0 mg/L范围内均呈现良好的线性关系,相关系数均大于0.99。6种化合物的检出限为1～5 μg/kg,添加回收率为87%～107%,相对标准偏差(RSD)均小于10%(n=6)。本方法简便快捷,选择性好,灵敏度高,可满足国内外现行法规的限量要求。     

QuEChERS/HPLC/DAD法同时检测果蔬中多种植物激素残留

采用高效液相色谱法,建立了同时分析玉米素(Z)、赤霉酸(GA)、多效唑(PBZ)、4-氟苯氧乙酸(4-FPA)、4-氯苯氧乙酸(4-CPA)、吲哚-3-乙酸(IAA)、吲哚-3-丁酸(IBA)、6-苄氨基嘌呤(6-BA)、脱落酸(ABA)、萘乙酸(NAA)、氯吡脲(CPPU)、2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸(2,4-D)及2,4,5-三氯苯氧乙酸(2,4,5-T)13种植物激素含量的方法。采用含0.5%甲酸的80%乙腈进行提取,分散固相萃取吸附剂(C18和硅藻土)进行净化,选取Waters XBridge C_(18)色谱柱,以乙腈-水为流动相进行梯度洗脱,二极管阵列检测器200~400nm检测,外标法定量。结果表明,13种植物激素在50 min内可实现基线分离,在线性范围内的相关系数(r)为0.992 1~0.999 3;加标回收率为68.4%~95.1%;相对标准偏差(RSD)均小于5%;方法的检出限为0.005~0.020 mg/kg;定量下限为0.01~0.09 mg/kg。该方法前处理操作快速、简便,具有良好的灵敏度、精密度和回收率,适用于果蔬的质量监控。     

QuEChERS-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定水果中21种植物生长调节剂的残留量

建立了高效液相色谱-串联质谱法（HPLC-MS/MS）同时测定水果中21种植物生长调节剂残留量的方法。样品经QuEChERS法进行预处理,选用含1%（v/v）乙酸的乙腈溶液提取,无水硫酸镁和十八烷基硅烷（C18）粉末净化,以C18色谱柱分离待测物,采用鞘流电喷雾离子化,正负离子分段扫描和多反应监测模式（MRM）检测,基质匹配标准溶液外标法定量。矮壮素、助壮素、氯化胆碱、环丙酸酰胺、氯吡脲、噻苯隆、抗倒胺、多效唑、烯效唑和抑芽唑在0.10~500 μg/L,丁酰肼和6-苄氨基嘌呤在1.0~500 μg/L,2,3,5-三碘苯甲酸、2,4-D、调果酸、对氯苯氧乙酸（4-CPA）和抗倒酯在2.0~1000 μg/L,赤霉素（GA3）、脱落酸（ABA）、1-萘乙酸（NAA）和吲哚-3-乙酸（IAA）在10~1000 μg/L的范围内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.990。21种植物生长调节剂的方法检出限为0.020~6.0 μg/kg,方法定量限为0.10~15.0 μg/kg,样品添加回收试验的平均回收率为73.0%~111.0%,相对标准偏差为3.0%~17.2%（n=6）。该方法快速简便,定量准确,可满足多种水果中21种植物生长调节剂的残留检测要求。     

固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定人尿中苯氧乙酸除草剂和有机磷、拟除虫菊酯农药代谢物北大核心CSCD

基于96孔固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法,建立了人尿中2种苯氧乙酸除草剂、2种有机磷农药代谢物和4种拟除虫菊酯农药代谢物的测定方法。通过对液相色谱条件、质谱条件和样品前处理过程的系统优化,实现了在16 min内对8种目标分析物的分析测定。具体方法:1 mL尿液经β-葡萄糖醛酸酶酶解过夜,Oasis HLB 96孔固相萃取进行目标分析物的提取净化,甲醇洗脱;以0.1%(体积分数)乙酸乙腈和0.1%(体积分数)乙酸水作为流动相,Acquity BEH C_(18)作为分析柱进行色谱分离;负离子电喷雾(ESI-)多反应监测(MRM)模式下检测目标化合物,同位素内标法定量。2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸(2,4-D)、2,4,5-三氯苯氧乙酸(2,4,5-T)2种苯氧乙酸除草剂和3-苯氧基苯甲酸(3-PBA)、4-氟-3-苯氧基苯甲酸(4F-3PBA)、反式二氯乙烯基二甲基环丙烷羧酸(trans-DCCA)3种拟除虫菊酯农药代谢物在0.1~100μg/L内、对硝基苯酚(PNP)、3,5,6-三氯-2-吡啶酚(TCPY)2种有机磷农药代谢物、顺式二氯乙烯基二甲基环丙烷羧酸(cis-DCCA)1种拟除虫菊酯代谢物在0.2~100μg/L内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.9993;方法检出限为0.02~0.07μg/L,方法定量限为0.08~0.2μg/L;低、中、高3个水平下的加标回收率为91.1%~110.5%,日内精密度为2.9%~7.8%,日间精密度为6.2%~10%。应用该方法测定了214份尿液样本。结果显示除2,4,5-T外,其余7种目标分析物均有检出。TCPY、PNP、3-PBA、4F-3PBA、trans-DCCA、cis-DCCA、2,4-D的检出率为2.8%~99.1%。检出浓度(中位值)由高到低分别是2.0μg/L(TCPY)、1.8μg/L(PNP)、0.99μg/L(trans-DCCA)、0.81μg/L(3-PBA)、0.44μg/L(cis-DCCA)、0.35μg/L(2,4-D)和未检出(4F-3PBA)。该方法操作简便,定量准确,灵敏度高,每批次可完成96个样品测定,适用于人尿中多种农药及农药代谢物的批量分析测定。     

分散固相萃取-超高压液相色谱-串联质谱法测定茶叶中赤霉酸和α-萘乙酸

建立了分散固相萃取-超高压液相色谱-串联质谱分析茶叶中两种植物激素赤霉酸(GA3)与α-萘乙酸(NAA)含量的方法。样品经甲醇均质提取,采用弗罗里硅土、石墨化炭黑(GCB)、丙基乙二胺(PSA)和C18混合吸附剂分散萃取净化。采用HSS C18色谱柱(100mm×2.0mm,1.8μm),电喷雾电离(-),多反应监测模式扫描(MRM),UPLC-ESI(-)-MS/MS检测,外标法定量分析。GA3和NAA分别在0.05～5.0mg/kg与0.10～5.0mg/kg范围内线性关系良好,相关系数r≥0.9990,定量限分别为0.05与0.10mg/kg。GA3和NAA在0.1,0.5和1.0mg/kg水平上的添加回收率分别在85.0%～86.8%和82.9%～84.4%之间,精密度(RSD)≤4.5%。本方法操作简单、准确,适用于测定茶叶中GA3和NAA残留量。     

Immuno-arrays for multianalyte analysis of chlorotriazines

In this paper, a novel strategy for multicomponent analysis of two classes of pesticides such as triazines (atrazine and simazine) and phenoxyalkanoic acids (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (CPOAc), phenoxyacetic acid (POAc)) employing immuno-arrays is demonstrated. The approach is based on cross-reactive arrays of specific antibody pairs coupled to chemometric pattern recognition. The monoclonal antibody pairs employed in this work (atrazine-simazine and 2,4-D) are specific towards a set of analytes and preclude a particular set of others present in the sample matrix. Antibody pairs of atrazine, simazine, and 2,4-D are used to discriminate and quantify analyte of interest. Atrazine was quantified in presence of trace concentration of simazine and that of 2,4-D. The combinatorial cross-reactivity of antibody pairs towards simazine, atrazine and 2,4-D is used to distinguish among different classes of analytes and their influence on the signal suppression in immuno-techniques. These sensors exclude recognition by carbamates such as carbaryl and carbofuran.     

超高效液相色谱-串联四极杆质谱法测定葡萄中单咖啡酰酒石酸酯、单香豆酰酒石酸酯和单阿魏酰酒石酸酯

建立了超高效液相色谱-串联四极杆质谱测定葡萄汁、皮和籽中羟基桂皮酒石酰酯类化合物含量的方法。采用的色谱柱为Waters UPLC HSS T3 (150 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm),流动相为含0.1%甲酸的水-乙腈体系,梯度洗脱,流速0.3 mL/min,柱温35 ℃;质谱采用电喷雾离子源、负离子多反应检测模式。对单香豆酰酒石酸酯和单阿魏酰酒石酸酯,其含量以单咖啡酰酒石酸酯当量表示。结果表明,单咖啡酰酒石酸酯在25～2000 μg/L范围内线性关系良好(r2=0.9989);检出限为0.25 μg/L,定量限为25 μg/L;在250、750、1200 μg/L添加水平下单咖啡酰酒石酸酯的平均回收率为97.7%～99.5%,相对标准偏差小于2.5%。实验结果表明,葡萄汁、皮和籽中羟基桂皮酒石酰酯类化合物的含量差异显著。该方法简单快速、灵敏度高、回收率高、准确性好,可用于葡萄产品中单咖啡酰酒石酸酯、单香豆酰酒石酸酯和单阿魏酰酒石酸酯的分析。     

Developing a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous analysis of five bioactive quassinoid markers for the standardization of manufactured batches of Eurycoma longifolia Jack extract as antimalarial medicaments

An extensive comparative study on the electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectrometry using automated flow injection analysis (FIA), was performed on eurycomanone (1), 13α(21)-epoxyeurycomanone (2), eurycomanol (3), eurycomanol-2-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), and 13,21-dihydroeurycomanone (5), the bioactive markers isolated from Eurycoma longifolia. The effects of eluent mixture (methanol or acetonitrile in water) and acidic modifiers (acetic acid, formic acid and trifluoroacetic acid) on the ionization efficiency of the markers were also investigated. The ESI in the positive ion mode with methanol containing 0.1% (v/v) acetic acid was selected for the subsequent optimization of nebulizer pressure, dry gas flow, dry gas temperature and capillary voltage to improve the sensitivity of the total ion chromatogram (TIC). Fragmentation of the analytes was further investigated by varying the capillary exit offset voltage and fragmentation amplitude in positive mode of ESI. The detection limits (LODs) were determined in isolation mode (selected ion monitoring, SIM). Their limits of detection (LODs) ranged between 0.03 and 0.1μgmL(-1) while the intra-day and inter-day precisions were less than 5.72% and 4.82%, respectively. The method was next applied for the simultaneous analysis of the markers to standardize various batches of manufactured extracts of E. longifolia for potential use as antimalarial products. Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode was used for the quantification of analytes which gave protonated molecular ion, [M+H](+). For those without pseudo-molecular ions, SIM mode was used to quantify the analytes. The batches contained 5.65-9.95% of eurycomanone (1), 5.21-19.75% of eurycomanol (3) and 7.59-19.95% of eurycomanol-2-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4) as major quassinoids whereas, 13α(21)-epoxyeurycomanone (2), and 13,21-dihydroeurycomanone (5) were much lower in concentrations of 0.78-3.90% and 0.47-1.76%, respectively.     

Determination of phytohormones in plant samples based on the precolumn fluorescent derivatization with 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-aminozide-difluoroboradiaza-s-indacene by HPLC for routine use

Six phytohormones including indole butyric acid (IBA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 2,4-dichloro-phenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), and salicylic acid (SA) in crude plant extractions have been quantitated by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection based on the precolumn derivatization using 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-aminozide-difluoroboradiaza-s-indacene (BODIPY-aminozide), a fluorescent reagent synthesized in our lab recently. The optimization of derivatization conditions was carefully studied by an L(25) (5(6)) orthogonal array design (OAD) with five factors at five levels that are important influence parameters in the improvement of derivatization efficiency. The separation conditions were also studied in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limits (S/N=3) of the six phytohormones were found from 0.12 to 0.75 nM. The proposed method was the first investigation of aminozide for the analysis of phytohormones and has been successfully applied to the determination of phytohormones in plant samples such as cucumber and tomato with recoveries of 94-105%.     

Simultaneous analysis of different classes of phytohormones in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water using high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after solid-phase extraction

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water, which contains many uncharacterized phytohormones is extensively used as a growth promoting supplement in plant tissue culture. In this paper, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of various classes phytohormones, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), zeatin (Z), N⁶-benzyladenine (BA), α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in young coconut water (CW). The analysis was carried out using a reverse-phase HPLC gradient elution, with an aqueous mobile phase (containing 0.1% formic acid, pH adjusted to 3.2 with triethylamine (TEA)) modified by methanol, and solute detection made at 265 nm wavelength. The method was validated for specificity, quantification, accuracy and precision. After preconcentration of putative endogenous phytohormones in CW using C₁₈ solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges, the HPLC method was able to screen for putative endogenous phytohormones present in CW. Finally, the identities of the putative phytohormones present in CW were further confirmed using independent liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface.     

超高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱法直接测定黄酒和葡萄酒中氨基甲酸乙酯

建立了超高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱(UPLC-ESI-MS/MS)直接测定黄酒和葡萄酒中氨基甲酸乙酯含量的方法。黄酒和葡萄酒样品经蒸馏水简单稀释后,过0.22 μm微孔滤膜,直接进行UPLC-MS/MS分析检测。以Waters Acquity UPLCTMBEH C18色谱柱为分析柱,乙腈和0.1%(v/v)乙酸水溶液为流动相,采用电喷雾正离子(ESI+)模式电离,多反应监测(MRM)模式检测,以氨基甲酸丁酯(BC)作为内标进行定量。结果表明: 方法在2～500 μg/L的范围内线性关系良好(相关系数大于0.995),其对黄酒和葡萄酒的检出限为1.7 μg/L,定量限为5.0 μg/L,可达到黄酒和葡萄酒中氨基甲酸乙酯的检测要求。当添加水平为10、20和100 μg/L时,黄酒和葡萄酒中待测组分的回收率为90%～102%,日内精密度(n=6)为0.8%～4.5%,日间精密度(n=6)为1.4%～5.6%。该方法样品处理简单,前处理过程不使用有机溶剂,测定快速、准确,灵敏度高,非常适合黄酒和葡萄酒中氨基甲酸乙酯的快速检测和定量分析。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定果蔬中7种植物生长促进剂残留

建立了果蔬样品中对氯苯氧乙酸、赤霉酸(GA3)、2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸、α-萘乙酸、吲哚丁酸、6-苄氨基嘌呤、氯吡脲残留的高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)分析方法。样品用甲醇匀质提取2次,经Waters C18固相萃取小柱净化后,在高效液相色谱-串联质谱仪(HPLC-MS/MS)选择反应监测(SRM)模式下测定。采用质谱定性,外标法定量。色谱柱为Hypersil GOLD aQ(150 mm×2.1 mm,3μm)柱,以甲醇和水为流动相,梯度洗脱。果蔬样品在低、中、高3个加标水平下的平均回收率为79%～97%,相对标准偏差均不高于7.6%。7种植物生长促进剂在果蔬样品中的方法检出限为0.40～20.0μg/kg。该方法灵敏度高、操作简单,可作为大批量果蔬中植物生长促进剂残留的检测方法。     

植物内源激素的反相高效液相色谱法测定

报道了以6－N－苄基腺嘌呤（BA）为内标的反相高效液相色谱法测定玉米素（ZT）、赤霉素（GA3）、激动素（KT）、3－吲哚乙酸（IAA）和脱落酸（ABA）等5种植物内源激素的条件;采用μBondapakC18柱、乙腈－甲醇－0．6％（φ）乙酸流动相、检测波长254nm,建立了一种从植物中提取5种激素的样品处理方法,并测定了马铃薯块茎中的5种植物内源激素的含量。     

QuEChERS-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定豆芽中40种植物生长调节剂、杀菌剂、杀虫剂和抗生素类药物残留北大核心CSCD

研究从豆芽质量安全监管的实际需求出发,建立了QuEChERS-高效液相色谱-串联质谱同时测定豆芽中植物生长调节剂、杀菌剂、杀虫剂和抗生素类等40种药物残留的方法。首先通过参数优化确定最佳质谱条件,然后比较不同提取溶剂(甲醇、乙腈、0.1%氨水乙腈、1%乙酸乙腈)、提取方法(超声、振荡)以及乙二胺-N-丙基硅烷化硅胶(PSA)、C_(18)净化剂添加量时40种药物的回收率,确定最优前处理过程。样品用10 mL 1%乙酸乙腈提取两次,超声波辅助提取,100 mg C_(18)为净化剂。选用Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C_(18)色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.7μm)进行分离,甲醇和0.01%甲酸水为流动相梯度洗脱,多反应监测(MRM)模式进行质谱监测,基质匹配外标法定量。结果表明,40种药物可在15 min内完成色谱分离,在2~200μg/L的线性范围内均呈现出良好的线性关系,相关系数(r^(2))均大于0.99,检出限(LOD)和定量限(LOQ)分别为0.1~3μg/kg和0.3~9μg/kg。以阴性豆芽为基质,分别在5、10、50μg/kg 3个水平下进行加标回收试验,40种药物的平均回收率为78.5%~115.3%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.3%~9.7%(n=6)。将该方法用于分析邯郸本地豆芽中40种药物的污染状况,结果显示4-氯苯氧乙酸、6-苄基腺嘌呤、多菌灵、2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸(2,4-D)、赤霉素和恩诺沙星检出率较高,分别为28.6%、19.0%、9.5%、9.5%、4.8%和4.8%,含量范围为37.5~352.4、32.4~273.1、28.8~38.7、16.1~20.2、19.9和13.6μg/kg。研究建立的方法简单、快速,灵敏度高,适用于大批量豆芽中40种药物的快速准确测定。     

Rapid and selective determination of UV filters in seawater by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry combined with stir bar sorptive extraction

Fast liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry was employed for the determination of six UV filters in seawater. The separation of the analytes was achieved in less than 5 min; polarity switching was used as four of the analytes were ionized in positive mode and the remaining two in negative mode. Two ionization sources were employed and compared: atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) gave better results than electrospray ionization (ESI) for all analytes, with higher reproducibility and lower detection limits. Therefore APCI was chosen for the determination of the analytes in seawater samples using stir bar sorptive extraction-liquid desorption (SBSE-LD).Quantitative analysis was performed in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode; fragmentation pathways of the analytes with regard to the formation of the MRM ions were also proposed.For the analysis of seawater samples, calibration curves were drawn using SBSE in spiked seawater. All figures of merit of the method were satisfactory; limits of detection were particularly low for the four analytes ionized in positive mode, being in the range 8-31 ng/L. The method was applied to the determination of the six UV filters in seawater samples from Liguria, Italy. Only benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC) were measured in the analyzed samples; some of the remaining analytes were also detected but always below the limit of quantitation.     

HPLC-MS/MS法同时测定果蔬中6种植物生长抑制剂残留

利用高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱(HPLC-ESI MS/MS)技术,建立了果蔬中氯化胆碱、矮壮素、缩节胺、嘧啶醇、多效唑、烯效唑6种植物生长抑制剂残留的检测方法.考察了流动相组分和流动相添加剂对质谱离子化效率的影响以及提取溶剂、提取剂用量和固相萃取柱对萃取效率的影响.在优化条件下,6种目标化合物在1.0 ～200.0...     

QuEChERS-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定牛奶中6种头孢菌素类抗生素残留

建立了QuEChERS-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱（UPLC-MS/MS）同时测定牛奶中6种头孢菌素类抗生素的分析方法。牛奶样品加入含1%（v/v）醋酸的乙腈溶液提取,于45℃氮吹浓缩,经100 mg C18吸附剂净化后,采用HSS T3柱（100 mm×2.1 mm,1.8 μm）分离,以0.1%（v/v）甲酸水溶液和乙腈为流动相进行梯度洗脱,在电喷雾离子源、正离子模式（ESI⁺）下电离,多反应监测（MRM）模式下检测,外标法定量。结果表明,6种头孢菌素类抗生素在2~200 μg/L质量浓度范围内均呈良好的线性关系,相关系数（r）均大于0.999,方法的检出限为0.2~0.6 μg/kg、定量限为0.8~2.0 μg/kg。在8、16和80 μg/kg的加标水平下,6种头孢菌素类抗生素的回收率为75.1%~94.4%,相对标准偏差为0.63%~8.3%。该方法简单快捷,准确可靠,适用于牛奶中头孢菌素类抗生素残留的同时测定。     

Gas-liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry of a butyl ester formulation of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid.

A method is presented for the analysis of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) in commercial formulations, together with concurrent detection and quantitation of related compounds. The method is based on direct gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) analysis of the formulation to estimate the various esters present, and on an analysis of the total 2,4-D present involving a prior cleanup, alkaline hydrolysis, acidification and n-butylation steps. This procedure also quantitates any other related acids or phenols present. A step which would extract dioxin impurities is also included. The method was checked by the accepted acid-base estimation of 2,4-D content, GLC, and by subjecting radioactive-labelled herbicide to the above procedures.     

Selection of hapten structures for indirect immunosensor arrays

A multianalyte immunosensor array can be implemented by immobilization of different haptens in distinct areas of a single cavity or flow cell. In this case a mixture of different antibodies for different analytes is used in an indirect ELISA-format. The selection of the right hapten structures is very important to build up an array successfully. A system of independent hapten/antibody combinations is needed, with one immobilized hapten (coating antigen) reacting only with one antibody. If more than one antibody binds to a coating antigen no ideal calibration curves are obtained. This phenomenon is known as shared-reactivity and can lead to double-sigmoidal curves. To use monoclonal antibodies to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), two different haptens had to be found, one only reacting with the TNT-antibody, the other only binding to the 2,4-D-antibody. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxybutyric acid was used for the 2,4-D antibody and 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-8-aminooctanoic acid for the TNT antibody. Although 4-nitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene showed only very low cross-reactivities to the 2,4-D antibody the corresponding haptens 4-nitrophenylacetic acid, 2,4-dinitrophenyl-6-aminohexanonic acid, and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluyl-(N)-glutarate are useful coating antigens for this antibody. The structure of the coating antigens had no significant influence on the midpoints (IC50) of the test for 2,4-D and even haptens with very low cross-reactivities could be used. With all haptens a test midpoint of about 0.2 μg/L for 2,4-D was achieved. For the direct assay format with immobilized antibodies the same test midpoint of 0.2 μg/L for 2,4-D was obtained. As a conclusion, the selectivity of a monoclonal antibody should not be influenced by the used tracer or coating antigen as well. It could be shown that the affinity constants of an antibody to the analytes are the main sensitivity and selectivity determining parameters for competitive immunoassays. A two-dimensional microtiter plate array was used to determine the analytes 2,4-D and TNT in parallel with a mixture of antibodies. Received: 29 July 1998 / Revised: 21 October 1998 / Accepted: 10 November 1998