Solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) and headspace derivatization of clenbuterol followed by GC–FID and GC–SIMMS quantification

Solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) and on-fiber derivatization followed by Gas Chromatography coupled with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) or Selected Ion Monitoring Mass Spectrometry (GC-SIMMS) allows for simple yet sensitive quantification for the hexamethyldisilazane derivative of the beta-agonist clenbuterol. Using an 85- micro m polyacrylate fiber, the analysis method is optimized with respect to extraction time, derivatization time and temperature, and solution pH. In addition, the use of a rapid temperature ramping injection port allows for optimization of fiber desorption conditions. Under optimal conditions, the limits of detection for the hexamethyldisilazane derivative of clenbuterol are 1.1 ppb by FID and 0.20 ppb by SIMMS.     

Determination of BTEX Compounds by Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction with GC–FID

Rapid, inexpensive, and efficient sample-preparation by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) then gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC–FID) have been used for extraction and analysis of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) in water samples. In this extraction method, a mixture of 25.0 μL carbon disulfide (extraction solvent) and 1.00 mL acetonitrile (disperser solvent) is rapidly injected, by means of a syringe, into a 5.00-mL water sample in a conical test tube. A cloudy solution is formed by dispersion of fine droplets of carbon disulfide in the sample solution. During subsequent centrifugation (5,000 rpm for 2.0 min) the fine droplets of carbon disulfide settle at the bottom of the tube. The effect of several conditions (type and volume of disperser solvent, type of extraction solvent, extraction time, etc.) on the performance of the sample-preparation step was carefully evaluated. Under the optimum conditions the enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were high, and ranged from 122–311 to 24.5–66.7%, respectively. A good linear range (0.2–100 μg L⁻¹, i.e., three orders of magnitude; r ² = 0.9991–0.9999) and good limits of detection (0.1–0.2 μg L⁻¹) were obtained for most of the analytes. Relative standard deviations (RSD, %) for analysis of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ BTEX compounds in water were in the range 0.9–6.4% (n = 5). Relative recovery from well and wastewater at spiked levels of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ was 89–101% and 76–98%, respectively. Finally, the method was successfully used for preconcentration and analysis of BTEX compounds in different real water samples.

     

Estimation of Olefin Dimerisation Products by GC/GC–MS and IR Techniques

A GC and IR based protocol was developed for monitoring the isobutene dimerisation process wherein the complete characterisation of the products was carried out by GC coupled with mass spectrometry. In the dimerisation process, LPG from FCC process comprising a mixture of saturated and unsaturated C4 hydrocarbons is subjected to a dimerisation process using a catalyst to produce C8 hydrocarbons. The reaction is carried out keeping in view the demand for high-octane blending components in gasoline. The isooctene generated in the process (mainly from the dimerisation of isobutene) is converted into isooctane having the RON and MON value 100. The monitoring process requires the use of two different column chemistries, viz., a 100 m CPSIL PONA CB non-polar column for C8 and its isomers and an Alumina PLOT column for C4 hydrocarbons. A 100 m non-polar column does not separate the C4 mixture since the column is meant for gasoline range products containing C5 and above hydrocarbons. Therefore, a need was felt for an improvised method which can handle both the analyses simultaneously. A cryogenic oven program starting from 0 °C was developed for separating the isomers of C4 hydrocarbons and C8 hydrocarbons on a single column during the single run by Detailed Hydrocarbon Analyzer. The data obtained using the cryo programme was validated with data obtained using Alumina PLOT column on C4 mixture since the Alumina PLOT column is the widely accepted column chemistry for separating the C4 hydrocarbons. An IR method for the estimation of the total olefin content was developed using 2,2,4-trimethyl pentene-1 as the reference standard. The total olefins generated during the process were identified by GC–MS, quantified by DHA-FID and validated by infrared spectroscopy. A good correlation was found between GC and IR spectral results (correlation coefficient R ²  = 0.99).     

Original GC–FID Determination of Non-Chromophoric Impurities in Quetiapine: An Antipsychotic Drug

A rapid and sensitive gas chromatographic method using flame ionization detection (GC–FID) has been developed and validated for five process related non-chromophoric impurities viz, 2-(2-chloroethoxy)ethanol (2-CEE), piperazine, 2-(piperazin-1-yl)ethanol (HEP), 2-[2-(piperazin-1-yl)ethoxy]ethanol (HEEP), 2,2-[piperazine-1,4-diylbis(ethane-2,1-diyloxy)]diethanol (DEEP) observed during the process development of quetiapine hemifumarate, an antipsychotic drug is presented. All five non-chromophoric impurities ranging from 0.05 to 0.1% were detected using DB-5 (30 m × 0.53 mm, 5 μm) column with a good peak separation. The method was fully validated according to the ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. The investigated validation protocols showed that the method has acceptable specificity, accuracy, linearity, precision, robustness and high sensitivity with detection limits and quantitation limits ranging from 0.001 to 0.01% and 0.004 to 0.03%, respectively. These non-chromophoric impurities generated during the process were identified by GC–MS and are characterized by MS, ¹H NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy.     

痕量磷化氢的冷阱二次富集机理与GC/FID分析方法研究

将火焰离子化检测器(FID)应用于二次富集气相色谱检测中构建了冷阱二次富集-GC/FID系统检测环境中痕量磷化氢的分析方法。研究了冷阱温度、载气流量、柱温箱温度和检测器温度对该系统富集检测效果的影响,讨论了磷化氢富集的机理,并将该系统应用于广州地区典型水稻田环境中结合态磷化氢(MBP)的检测。结果表明:当冷阱温度为-90℃,载气流量为1.5 mL/min,柱温箱温度为90℃,检测器温度为220℃时,系统操作条件最优。冷阱二次富集磷化氢的主要机理是富集毛细管柱(KB-Al2O3/NaSO4)对磷化氢的吸附作用,属气-固吸附。系统检出限为0.041 7 pg,精密度为4.3%。整个水稻生长周期内,水稻土中结合态磷化氢(MBP)的平均含量为120.59 ng/kg,测定结果的相对标准偏差均值为8.5%。该方法对痕量磷化氢的检测效果与使用氮磷检测器(NPD)的传统方法相近,但FID检测器的结构简单、操作方便、价格经济,使环境中痕量磷化氢的检测更容易实现,可推广应用。     

Development of novel magnetic solid-phase extraction sorbent based on Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/carbon nanosphere/polypyrrole composite and their application to the enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water samples prior to GC–FID analysis

We describe a magnetic nanocomposite that consists of Fe₃O₄/carbon nanosphere/polypyrrole (Fe₃O₄/CNS/PPy). The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The nanocomposite was successfully applied to extract of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from water samples. Compared to Fe₃O₄/PPy, the Fe₃O₄/CNS/PPy nanocomposite exhibits improved properties in terms of extraction. The amount of adsorbent, salt effect, extraction time, desorption time, type, and the volume of desorption solvent were optimized. Following the desorption of the extracted analytes, the PAHs (i.e., naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 2-bromonaphthalene, fluorene, and anthracene) were quantified by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector. The PAHs can be determined in 0.05–100.00 ng mL^?1 concentration range, with limits of detection (at an S/N ratio of 3) ranging from 0.01 to 0.05 ng mL^?1. The repeatability of the method was investigated with relative standard deviations of lower than 9.9% (n = 5). Also, the recoveries from spiked real water samples were in the range of 88.9–99.0%. The results indicate that the novel material can be successfully applied for the extraction and analysis of PAHs from water samples.     

Identification of polymer building blocks by Py–GC/MS and MALDI-TOF MS

The main goal of this work is to identify polyurethane (PU) building blocks by pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) are widely used polymer building blocks. Py–GC/MS and MALDI-TOF MS were proved to be powerful methods to distinguish TDI-PU and MDI-PU according to the characteristic pyrolysis products and the different repeated units, respectively. In Py–GC/MS, the specific pyrolyzates are TDI for TDI-PU and MDI for MDI-PU. In MALDI-TOF MS, the weights of repeated units are 264?g/mol for TDI-PU and 340?g/mol for MDI-PU.     

Solid-Phase Microextraction of Phthalate Esters from Aqueous Media by Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes (Graphene Oxide Nanoribbons) and Determination by GC–FID

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were exposed to hydrothermal treatment for obtaining graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs). The fabricated graphene oxide nanoribbons have been morphologically and compositionally characterized via FE-SEM, XRD, and FT-IR techniques. The as-synthesized GONRs have been used as sorbent phase for headspace solid-phase microextraction of phthalate esters (PEs) from aqueous solutions. In this regard, the GC–FID analysis route has been used for quantification of PEs. The new SPME fiber shows remarkable analytical figures of merit including broad dynamic linear ranges, low limits of detection, as well as good stability and reasonable relative standard deviations for evaluation of PEs. The linearity of the method for analysis of PEs including DnBP, DnPP, DEHP, DEHA, BBP, and DMP was between the range of 0.05–100, 0.05–100, 0.1–100, 0.1–100, 0.2–100, and 0.5–100 μg L^?1, respectively. The limits of detection (based on S/N?=?3) and correlation coefficients were found to be in the range of 0.02–0.2 μg L^?1 and 0.9907–0.9952, correspondingly. The prepared GONR-coated SPME fiber shows larger extraction yield in comparison to pristine MWNTs and commercial PDMS SPME fibers. Furthermore, real sample analysis showed that there is no significant matrix effect for evaluation of PEs from environmental water samples and proposed method could be used for evaluation and determination of PEs from aqueous samples in a precise and accurate manner. The existence of functional groups, π–π interactions, as well as hydrogen bonding between adsorbent phase and PE analytes could be the reason for observing such a high extraction yield.

     

Detection and Confirmation of Ginsenosides in Horse Urine by GC–MS and LC–MS

Ginseng has been used by the Chinese as a traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years. In view of the growing popularity in the use of ginseng preparations as natural remedies and food supplements worldwide, there is an increasing concern for their abuse in both human and animal sports. Ginsenosides are considered the major constituents of ginseng responsible for its pharmacological properties. In this study, a method was developed for the detection and confirmation of a number of ginsenosides in horse urine. The intact ginsenosides were detected and confirmed at 5–100 ng mL^?1 by LC–MS², and two deglycosylation metabolites, namely protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol, could both be detected and confirmed at 2 ng mL^?1 by GC–MS² after trimethylsilylation. The above GC–MS and LC–MS methods were then applied to study the in vitro metabolism of ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 and the in vivo urinary metabolites after oral administration of Rg1 to horses. Results obtained reveal the very first evidence for the existence of the metabolites, Rg1 and protopanaxatriol, as glucuronides in urine.     

Investigation of Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne Using GC–MS and LC–MS

Gas and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was applied to solve difficulties and reinvestigate the serious matrix problems affecting analysis of the active compounds in Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne. The main groups of compounds were obtained by extracting the herb stepwise with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol. Polyamide column chromatography facilitated further separation. Phenolic/flavonoid- and terpenoid-type molecules were studied by GC–MS, HPLC and LC–MS–MS. The β-sitosterol content of the herb was determined by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID). Caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, coumaric acid and flavonoid glycosides of apigenin, luteolin, rhamnetine (hexoside), kaempferol (both hexoside and rutinoside) and quercetin (rutinoside) were identified in the fractions of the methanolic extract.     

Sorption–desorption studies of six pyrethroids and mirex on soils using GC/MS-NICI

Sorption–desorption equilibria of six pyrethroids (permethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, λ-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin and fenvalerate) and mirex were determined in soils possessing a range of organic content (1.15–2.46%). Solutions (in deionized water, pH 6.5–7.4) of the samples were shaken using a mechanical shaker for 24?h. The suspensions were centrifuged and aliquots of clear supernatant were passed through a C-18 column (SPE extraction). The eluates were concentrated to dryness before a volumetric standard was added. The analytes were determined by gas chromatography with negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC/MS-NICI) either in SIR or SCN mode. Sorption isotherm parameters (n and k) were calculated according to the Freundlich equation. The values of n are around unity. Permethrin and cyfluthrin were the least sorbed pyrethroids, k<2, mirex and fenvalerate the most. The effect of the pH on sorption was examined also (at pH values 2, 4, 6 and 9). Sorption behaviour on different soils and silica was also examined. Desorption studies were conducted on the same pyrethroid solutions. After sorption, the supernatant was replaced with a similar volume of deionized water. Desorption was achieved by removing all the supernatant from the centrifuged samples and then replacing it with deionized water. This equilibration process was repeated five times. Each time the suspension was centrifuged, concentrated and analyzed using GC/MS analysis. The residual amount of pyrethroid on the soil was calculated as the difference between the initial amount and the desorbed amount (mass balance).     

HS–SPME–GC–MS for the Quantitation and Chiral Characterization of Camphor and Menthol in Creams

A GC–MS method is proposed for the analysis of camphor and menthol in “over-the-counter” (OTC) products. Sample preparation was achieved by head-space solid phase microextraction using a polydimethylsiloxane fibre. GC analysis was performed using a Phenomenex ZB-5 column and a temperature program was adopted. The method was validated by studying linearity (range 0.1–15.0% w/w), accuracy, reproducibility and sensitivity. Applications were directed to the determination of the active ingredients in four different OTC-products; the mean recoveries were in the ranges 91.30–99.74% and 94.34–102.89% for camphor and menthol, respectively and the LOD was in the order of 0.005% (w/w). Other important terpenoids (α- and β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, menthone, isomenthone, α-terpineole, t-cinnamaldehyde, eugenole) were identified by mass spectra and Kovats retention indices and quantified by peak area normalization to 100%. Further information for a comprehensive characterization of the OTC-products was achieved by the GC chiral analysis on a Cyclosil B capillary column.     

Analysis of pyrethroid pesticides in Chinese vegetables and fruits by GC–MS/MS

A rapid and economical method using modified QuEChERS sample pretreatment coupled with high-sensitivity gas chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was established to simultaneously determine ten pyrethroid pesticides in fruits and vegetables. All pesticides were detected within 20 min of one injection. Concurrent backflushing provided column protection, greatly facilitating instrument maintenance. For quantitation, matrix-matched calibration was used to compensate for signal-enhancement effects and to ensure the precision of the method. The limit of detection (LOD) was in the range of 0.3–4.9 μg/kg. The recovery rate was from 78.8 to 118.6%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) below 14.8%. The developed method is suitable for rapid and sensitive multi-residue analysis of pyrethroid pesticides in fruits and vegetables. It is good for users in professional institutions that implement safety controls for testing hundreds of agricultural product samples everyday.     

Determination of Pesticides Adsorbed on Arthropods and Gastropods by a Micro-QuEChERS Approach and GC–MS/MS

A miniaturized QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Save) approach combined with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) has been developed for the simultaneous determination of nine pesticides (Cyflufenamide, Difenoconazole, Dimethomorph, Fluopicolide, Fluopyram, Metrafenone, Myclobutanil, Quinoxyfen, and Tebuconazole) in insects, snails, and spiders. In contrast to the original QuEChERS approach, only 500 mg of dried and homogenized sample matrix, mixed with 1.0 mL ethyl acetate and 250 mg MgSO₄:NaCl (4:1), is required for this novel “micro-QuEChERS” protocol. The organic phase was cleaned using dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) with 75 mg MgSO₄:PSA sorbent (4:1). The method was validated according to SANCO/12571/2013 and applied to real samples (n = 7). Fluopicolide was the only detectable pesticide in real samples from vineyards. In two samples, the Fluopicolide levels were between the determined LOD and LOQ (0.15–1.00 mg kg^?1), and in one sample a concentration of 1.68 mg kg^?1 was detected.     

Norchlorotestosterone Acetate: An Alternative Metabolism Study and GC–MS<Superscript>2</Superscript> Analysis in Kidney Fat,Urine, and Faeces

Norchlorotestosterone acetate (NClTA) is an anabolic steroid which resembles chlorotestosterone acetate. It cannot yet be detected by routine methods used for anabolic steroids, because there is no knowledge of its metabolic pathway. The invertebrate Neomysis integer has been used as an alternative model to study the metabolism of NClTA. The experimental results indicated the presence of 4-norchloroandrost-4-ene-17-ol-3-one (NClT) and 4-norchloroandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (NorClAD) as possible metabolites of NClTA. Subsequently NClTA and the synthesised metabolites NClT and NorClAD were incorporated into the routine multi-residue method for detection of anabolic steroids in kidney fat, urine, and faeces.     

Determination of multiclass pesticides in food commodities by pressurized liquid extraction using GC–MS/MS and LC–MS/MS

Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was applied to the simultaneous extraction of a wide range of pesticides from food commodities. Extractions were performed by mixing 4 g of sample with 4 g of Hydromatrix and (after optimization) a mixture of ethyl acetate:acetone (3:1, v/v) as extraction solvent, a temperature of 100°C, a pressure of 1000 psi and a static extraction time of 5 min. After extraction, the more polar compounds were analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC), and the apolar and semipolar pesticides by gas chromatography (GC); in both cases LC and GC were coupled with mass spectrometry in tandem (MS/MS) mode. The overall method (including the PLE step) was validated in GC and LC according to the criteria of the SANCO Document of the European Commission. The average extraction recoveries (at two concentration levels) for most of the analytes were in the range 70–80%, with precision values usually lower than 15%. Limits of quantification (LOQ) were low enough to determine the pesticide residues at concentrations below or equal to the maximum residue levels (MRL) specified by legislation. In order to assess its applicability to the analysis of real samples, aliquots of 15 vegetable samples were processed using a conventional extraction method with dichloromethane, and the results obtained were compared with the proposed PLE method; differences lower than 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ were found.     

Determination of Pentachloronitrobenzene and Its Metabolites in Ginseng by Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion and GC–MS–MS

A rapid method was developed for the determination of pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) and its metabolites pentachloroaniline, pentachlorothioanisole residues in ginseng. Extraction and clean-up were carried out in a single step and analysis was accomplished by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring. The main parameters affecting extraction yield and selectivity, such as type and amount of dispersant material, clean-up co-sorbent and extraction solvent were evaluated. The best results were obtained using 1 g ginseng, 2 g florisil as dispersant sorbent, 0.5 g neutral alumina as clean-up co-sorbent, and subsequent extraction with 10 mL acetone–n-hexane (5:5, v/v) with assisted sonication and repeated with another 5 mL of the same solvent mixture. The method was validated by analysis of ginseng samples fortified at different concentration levels (0.01–0.10 mg kg^?1). Average recoveries (n = 5) ranged from 85 to 95% with relative standard deviation between 2.5 and 11.2%. Spiked blank samples were used as standards to counteract the matrix effect observed in the chromatographic determination. The detection limits ranged from 0.2 to 0.9 µg kg^?1 in ginseng. The method was applied to the analysis of PCNB and its metabolite residues in commercial ginseng samples.     

GC–FID as a primary method for establishing the purity of organic CRMs used for drugs in sport analysis

The National Analytical Reference Laboratory has synthesized and characterized 67 anabolic steroid marker metabolites, both unlabelled and deuterated, and 37 key glucuronide and sulfate steroid conjugate pure substance reference materials. Work is also in process to establish their full traceability so that they can be issued as certified and primary reference materials. Both identity and purity have been rigorously characterized using a number of techniques and a primary method for purity assessment developed, based gas chromatography combined with flame ionization detection for the parent steroids and HPLC with evaporative light scattering detection for non-volatile steroid conjugates. Strategies for establishing traceability and for estimating measurement uncertainty are reported. The strategies described are considered applicable to a wide range of organic pure substance reference materials.     

Simultaneous Determination of 42 Pesticides and Herbicides in Chicken Eggs by UHPLC–MS/MS and GC–MS Using a QuEChERS-Based Procedure

A quick, easy, cheap, rugged, effective, and safe (QuEChERS)-based method has been validated for the extraction of 42 pesticides and herbicides including organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), carbamate pesticides (CBs), herbicides (HBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and synthetic pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) from chicken eggs. The QuEChERS-based extraction procedure was followed by cleanup steps using C18 and primary secondary amine sorbents. The supernatant was analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The OPPs, CBs, and HBs were quantified by UHPLC–MS/MS, while the OCPs and PYRs were detected by GC–MS. The limits of quantification ranged from 0.01 to 8.5 μg kg⁻¹, and the analyte recoveries were in the range of 64.9–123.2 %. Furthermore, the repeatabilities (intra-day and inter-day) were good, and linear matrix-matched calibration curves were obtained. Acetochlor was identified in concentrations ranging from 0.27 to 0.44 μg kg⁻¹ in four samples from 80 chicken eggs. The method was successfully demonstrated for the fast and reliable analysis of pesticides and herbicides in chicken egg samples.