Evidence for thermal decomposition contributions to the mass spectra of chlorinated phenoxyacid herbicides obtained by particle beam liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

The spectral quality of a group of chlorinated phenoxyacid herbicides has been shown to degrade under certain conditions upon introduction into the mass spectrometer by a particle beam interface. Experiments were performed to investigate these changes in spectra. Normalized ion chromatograms were generated for the herbicides, and the results showed a broadening of the profiles of some ions, indicating a longer residence time in the ion source. These ions were postulated as coming from the ionization of thermal degradation products from the herbicides. The generation of these ions was dependent on ion source temperature, analyte concentration, and, by implication, ion source cleanliness. Tandem mass spectrometry experiments were performed on these ions from the herbicides and ions from the corresonding phenols. The tandem mass spectra of the ions from the herbicides were similar to the tandem mass spectra of the ions from the phenols. Therefore, it appears that the particle beam mass spectra of the chlorinated phenoxyacid herbicides are composite spectra with contributions from the gas phase ionization of the parent herbidides and thermal decomposition products.     

Application of solid-phase extraction: High-resolution mass spectrometry analysis strategy in the characterization and quantification of amide herbicides in aquatic products

In this study, we developed a new method combining thin-layer ultrasonic extraction, efficient SPE purification, ultra-performance liquid chromatography separation, and high-resolution mass spectrometry characterization for seven amide herbicides in fishery products. In sample preparation, to rapidly increase the contact area between the fish meat and the extractant, the fish meat was smeared on a glass slide. This process resulted in quickly reaching the extraction equilibrium and relatively high extraction efficiency. In data analysis, a strategy for characterization and qualitative analysis was constructed by analyzing the fragmentation of amide herbicides using product ion scans. Isomeric pretilachlor and butachlor were separated chromatographically, while the coeluting isomers, alachlor and acetochlor, could be separated by differences in the fragmentation of their selected precursor ions. This method overcame the challenge of poor dispersion in the extractant caused by the high viscosity of fish meat, and the challenge of separation and characterization for isomers. Compared with other methods, the extraction efficiency was improved and the amide herbicides in aquatic products was characterized and quantified rapidly and accurately. Moreover, the qualitative information was much greater and provided an additional strategy for analytes identification. This rapid and accurate method will benefit workers involved in monitoring fishery.     

Thermal analysis of commercial herbicides

Five different plant-protecting agents (herbicides) were investigated by means of simultaneous thermal analysis/mass spectrometry.

The TA/MS experiments were carried out in air or argon atmosphere and the thermal analysis data are reported. The decomposition products released were identified by evaluation of the mass spectral data that were recorded simultaneously. The mass spectra obtained and the degradation pathways are discussed and compared with literature data.     

Novel chromatographic separation and carbon solid-phase extraction of acetanilide herbicide degradation products

One acetamide and 5 acetanilide herbicides are currently registered for use in the United States. Over the past several years, ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OA) degradation products of these acetanilide/acetamide herbicides have been found in U.S. ground waters and surface waters. Alachlor ESA and other acetanilide degradation products are listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 1998 Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List. Consequently, EPA is interested in obtaining national occurrence data for these contaminants in drinking water. EPA currently does not have a method for determining these acetanilide degradation products in drinking water; therefore, a research method is being developed using liquid chromatography/negative ion electrospray/mass spectrometry with solid-phase extraction (SPE). A novel chromatographic separation of the acetochlor/alachlor ESA and OA structural isomers was developed which uses an ammonium acetate-methanol gradient combined with heating the analytical column to 70 degrees C. Twelve acetanilide degradates were extracted by SPE from 100 mL water samples using carbon cartridges with mean recoveries >90% and relative standard deviations < or =16%.     

Examination of the translocation of sulfonylurea herbicides in sunflower plants by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to control weeds, pests and diseases. Successful control is dependent on the compound reaching the target site within the organism after spray or soil application. Conventional methods for determining uptake and movement of herbicides and pesticides include autoradiography, liquid scintillation and chromatographic techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Autoradiography using radiolabelled compounds provides the best indication of a compound's movement within the plant system. Autoradiography is an established technique but it relies on the synthesis of radiolabelled compounds. The distribution of four sulfonylurea herbicides in sunflower plants has been studied 24 h after foliar application. The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) images of protonated molecules and fragment ions (resulting from fragmentation at the urea bond within the sulfonylurea herbicides) has provided evidence for translocation above and below the application point. The translocation of nicosulfuron and azoxystrobin within the same plant system has also been demonstrated following their application to the plant stem. This study provides evidence that MALDI-MSI has great potential as an analytical technique to detect and assess the foliar, root and stem uptake of agrochemicals, and to reveal their distribution through the plant once absorbed and translocated.     

Determination of trace levels of herbicides and their degradation products in surface and ground waters by gas chromatography/ion-trap mass spectrometry

A rapid, specific and highly sensitive method is described for the determination of several commonly used herbicides and their degradation products in surface and ground waters by using gas chromatography/ion-trap mass spectrometry. The compounds included atrazine, and its degradation products desethylatrazine and desisopropylatrazine; simazine; cyanazine; metolachlor; and alachlor and its degradation products, 2-chloro-2',6'-diethylacetanilide, 2-hydroxy-2',6'-diethylacetanilide and 2,6-diethylaniline. The method was applied to surface-water samples collected from 16 different stations along the lower Mississippi River and its major tributaries, and ground-water samples beneath a cornfield in central Nebraska. Average recovery of a surrogate herbicide, terbuthylazine, was greater than 99%. Recoveries of the compounds of interest from river water spiked at environmental levels are also presented. Full-scan mass spectra of these compounds were obtained on 1 ng or less of analyte. Data were collected in the full-scan acquisition mode. Quantitation was based on a single characteristic ion for each compound. The detection limit was 60 pg with a signal-to-noise ratio of greater than 10:1.     

磺酰脲类除草剂残留检测技术及其研究进展

磺酰脲类除草剂具有高效、低毒、低残留等特点,已经成为当前使用量最大的一类除草剂.随着该类除草剂在农业生产中的广泛使用,其残留问题以及对后茬作物产生的危害已经引起关注.由于磺酰脲类除草剂在环境和生物样品中痕量存在,且其化学和热不稳定,酸性条件下易水解,以及最大残留限量值日益严格,使其残留分析成为一项极具挑战性的工作.该文综述了近年来磺酰脲类除草剂残留分析的前处理方法和检测技术的研究进展,并详细介绍了分子印迹技术、在线联用技术和液相色谱-串联质谱技术在该类除草剂检测中的应用及其前景,为今后分析检测各类样品基质中磺酰脲类除草剂的残留提供参考和依据.     

Investigation of some vinyl polymers by pyrolysis—gas chromatography—mass spectrometry

Although much has been published on the thermal degradation behaviour and products of vinyl polymers, the possibilities of using gaschromatography—mass spectrometry in the investigation of pyrolysate composition have much to offer.Results for poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl acetate), polystyrene and poly(α-methyl-styrene) homopolymers and styrene—acrylonitrile copolymer obtained by pyrolysis—gas chromatography—mass spectrometry are presented. Numerous additional fragments not previously specified have been determined. The possible mechanisms of their origin as regards the polymer chain structure are discussed.     

Characterization of glutathione conjugates of chloroacetanilide pesticides using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) isolated from maize were used to catalyze the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) with chloroacetanilide herbicides, producing stable conjugates that were structurally characterized using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/QqToF-MS) and liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/IT-MS). Enzyme-mediated dechlorination of alachlor, metolachlor, and propachlor resulted during GSH conjugation as revealed by the mass spectra of the conjugates, which was confirmed by the loss of the chlorine isotopic signature and from high accurate mass measurements. Several fragmentation patterns in the mass spectra of the chloroacetanilide-GSH conjugates can be used to verify the identities of the enzyme reaction products, such as characteristic ions corresponding to the neutral loss of glutamic acid residue (129 Da) and water (18 Da) observed in the product ion spectrum. For the first time, data are presented showing detection of chloroacetanilides that are conjugated with two GSH molecules, in addition to the known single GSH conjugates.     

Elucidation of the dissociation pathways of electro‐ionized estrone

With the future aim of using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to characterize the transformation products of estrone submitted to UV‐photolysis or to waste water treatment plants, an interpretation of the electron impact mass spectrum of estrone is presented. Fragmentation mechanisms are proposed on the basis of high‐resolution measurements performed with a magnetic sector analyzer. Multiple‐stage mass spectrometry experiments were carried out using an ion trap mass spectrometer. The structures proposed for product ions were confirmed by the m/z shifts observed in the estrone‐d₄ and estrone methyl ether electron ionization mass spectra. If the formation of some of the most abundant ions may easily be explained by α‐cleavages and retro‐Diels‐Alder type rearrangements, complex mechanisms need to be considered to rationalize the formation of others. Isotope labelling allows discrimination of isobaric ions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of triazine herbicides in foods with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Eight residual triazine herbicides and three metribuzin metabolites in foods were determined by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface, under both positive and negative ion modes. Herbicides were extracted with acetonitrile, and no cleanup procedure was adopted in this method. Four foods were spiked with eight herbicides and three metabolites at 0.05 ppm. The average recoveries of these herbicides usually ranged from 82 to 99% and the relative standard deviations were usually around 10%. These results suggest that LC-MS with APCI can be used to determine residues of triazine herbicides in foods.     

Determination of rice herbicides, their transformation products and clofibric acid using on-line solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography with diode array and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric detection

A simultaneous method for the trace determination of acidic, neutral herbicides and their transformation products in estuarine waters has been developed through an on-line solid-phase extraction method followed by liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometric detection. An atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface was used in the negative ionization mode after optimization of the main APCI parameters. Limits of detection ranged from 0.1 to 0.02 ng/ml for 50 ml of acidified estuarine waters preconcentrated into polymeric precolumns and using time-scheduled selected ion monitoring mode. Two degradation products of the acidic herbicides (4-chloro-2-methylphenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol) did not show good signal response using APCI-MS at the concentration studied due to the higher fragmentor voltage needed for their determination. For molinate and the major degradation product of propanil, 3,4-dichloroaniline, positive ion mode was needed for APCI-MS detection. The proposed method was applied to the determination of herbicides in drainage waters from rice fields of the Delta del Ebro (Spain). During the 3-month monitoring of the herbicides, 8-hydroxybentazone and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid were successively found in those samples.     

Monitoring the synthesis of new pitches from coal tar and its fractions by chromatography and related techniques.

The aim of this paper is to study the applications of chromatography and related techniques in the transformation of coal-derived products into pitches for specific uses. Anthracene oil, tar and pitch were thermally treated in the presence of air (and sulfur in the case of anthracene oil) in order to cause the polymerization/condensation of their components. The evolution of the components of the parent materials during the treatments was monitored by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-atomic emission detection, probe mass spectrometry and size-exclusion chromatography. From the results obtained, possible mechanisms for the transformation of coal-derived products into new pitches were established.     

Determination of diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor in tobacco by gel permeation chromatographic clean-up and high performance liquid chromatography

Diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor (FIG. 1) are selective, pre-emergence arylamide herbicides used to control the growth of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in a variety of fields, e.g. fruit trees, nuts, corns, green crops, etc. They possess high activity and moderate toxicity. For food and environment safety, the detailed investigations on their residues and metabolism are very important. Diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor in the pesticide products, serum, urine, soil, environmental water, fruits and wine have been widely analyzed by ELISA, fluorescence, phosphorescence, capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography(GC) and GC mass spectrometry (GC-MS). However, to our knowledge, simultaneous residue analysis of diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor in tobacco samples has not been extensively documented. Tobacco is greatly consumed by smokers throughout the world. The pesticide residue in tobaccos might be potentially harmful to smokers' health. With this in mind the residue determination and control of diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor in the tobacco leaves are very important for tobacco products and consumers. For these three herbicides, the tolerable maximum residue limits (MRLs) have been limited ranging from 0.05 (for tobacco products) to 5 mg/kg (for tobacco leaves) in different European countries. For the complex tobacco samples, the GC and HPLC with UV detection suffer from matrix interference making quantification and identification of these herbicides difficult. In such cases the removal of the matrix effects and identification of the target compounds are of great importance. The present work reports the extraction and clean up procedures, as well as, the chromatographic conditions developed for the simultaneous determination of diphenamide, napropamide and metolachlor residues in the fluecured tobacco leaves, from the different sources using HPLC-UV method.     

An investigation of dipeptides containing polar and nonpolar side groups by curie-point pyrolysis tandem mass spectrometry

Methionyl-leucine, leucyl-methionine, phenylalanyl-leucine, and leucyl-phenylalanine have been analyzed to determine dipeptide fragmentation mechanisms in Curie-point pyrolysis tandem mass spectrometry. Results show that fragmentations of dipeptides follow two general pathways, one involving direct cleavage of the dipeptide and the other involving cyclization of the dipeptide. Unique products and strong changes in relative mass spectral peak intensities arise, depending on constituent amino acid residues and their sequence. Also, the length and nature of the side groups strongly direct fragmentation. From these results, the major peaks in the spectra of eight other dipeptides could be readily explained; this suggests that a significant number of dipeptides follow the same general fragmentation mechanisms.     

Influence of the solvent on the gas chromatographic behaviour of urea herbicides

Summary Degradation products of chlorsulfuron, chlortoluron, diuron, fluometuron, isoproturon, linuron, metabenzthiazuron, metobromuron, and monuron formed in the gas chromatographic injector have been used for identification of the respective herbicides. Mass spectra of the derived compounds were obtained with a quadrupole mass spectrometric detector working in scan mode (20–450 amu). The compounds generated often depended on the solvent used for phenylurea herbicide injection (ethanol, methanol, dichloromethane, and acetonitrile). When methanol and ethanol were used as solvents the major products formed from phenylureas were carbamic acid esters. When acetonitrile or dichloromethane were used the main derivatives were phenylisocyanates. Chlorsulfuron and metabenzthiazuron, however, generated a triazine plus a phenylsulfonamide and a benzothiazolamine, respectively, irrespective of the solvent used. Linuron and diuron behaved similarly and gave degradation products with the same mass spectra. The thermal reactions occurred instantaneously in the injector block and were promoted by the high temperature selected (300°C). Detemination of the compounds derived from urea herbicides, by use of a 30 m BP10 column and a selected ion registering (SIR) program based on two or three ions, can be used for sensitive detection of the presence of urea herbicides in environmental extracts. With standards in methanol instrument detection limits ranged from 0.1 pg for chlorsulfuron (detected as 2-chlorobenzensulfonamide) to 1 pg for monuron and metobromuron (both detected as their carbamic acid methyl esters).RSD were below 9% at the 5 ng L⁻¹ level. The response was linearly dependent on quantily (r>0.9986) in the 5 ng L⁻¹ to 25 μg L⁻¹ range. Unequivocal identification of some phenylurea herbicides was not always possible because some herbicides with similar structures, for example diuron and linuron, gave the same derivative.     

Ion-pair liquid chromatography--atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry for the determination of quaternary ammonium herbicides

High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization) has been used to characterize some quaternary ammonium herbicides (quats). The separation of these compounds was carried out using ion-pair chromatography with heptafluorobutyric acid (15 mM, pH 3.3) and acetonitrile gradient elution for successful coupling to mass spectrometry. Detection limits down to 0.1-4 micrograms l-1 were obtained for spiked tap water following a preconcentration step. Good reproducibilities (day-to-day and run-to-run) were also obtained.     

Determination of acidic herbicides in fruits and vegetables using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

The use of quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe method followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was found to be the best combination for multiresidue determination of eight acidic herbicides in fruits and vegetables in terms of high recovery, short time of analysis, low cost and safety. Recent few articles were published for determination of different classes of acidic herbicides in single multiresidue method. In the present study, mass spectrophotometric conditions were individually optimised for eight acidic herbicides, namely 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, bentazone, bromoxynil, fluazifop, fluroxypyr, imazethapyr, ioxynil and triclopyr to achieve maximum sensitivity and selectivity in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode allowing simultaneous identification and quantification in a single run. Identity confirmation and quantitation were attained by using negative electrospray ionisation LC-MS/MS (ESI?) in MRM mode. Due to LC-MS/MS signal suppression, determination of pesticide residues was based on matrix-matched standard calculations. Most of the evaluated compounds showed a recovery ranging from 81% to 113% with relative standard deviations less than 16 % indicating acceptable precision. The precision and accuracy of the method were determined from recovery experiments on six replicates of spiked blank strawberry and green beans samples at 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg. The developed assay was linear over concentration range of 0.01–0.5 µg/mL, with correlation coefficient greater than 0.99 at the limit of quantitation 0.01 µg/mL. The proposed assay was successfully applied for the analysis of the studied acidic herbicides residues in two proficiency test samples. This wide scope assay protocol is applicable for monitoring acidic herbicides residues in fruits and vegetables by national regulatory authorities and accredited labs in order to help ensuring the safety of such widely used food products.     

High mass accuracy in-source collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry and multi-step mass spectrometry as complementary tools for fragmentation studies of quaternary ammonium herbicides

Fragmentation studies using both an ion-trap mass analyzer and a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer were performed in order to establish the fragmentation pathways of organic molecules. A general strategy combining MSn data (n = 1-4) in an ion-trap analyzer with tandem mass spectrometry and in-source collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID MS/MS) in a Q-TOF instrument was applied. The MSn data were used to propose a tentative fragmentation pathway following genealogical relationships. When several assignments were possible, MS/MS and in-source CID MS/MS (Q-TOF) allowed the elemental compositions of the fragments to be confirmed. Quaternary ammonium herbicides (quats) were used as test compounds and their fragmentation pathways were established. The elemental composition of the fragments was confirmed using the TOF analyzer with relative errors <0.0023 Da. Some fragments previously reported in the literature were reassigned taking advantage of the high mass resolution and accuracy of the Q-TOF instrument, which made it possible to solve losses where nitrogen was involved.     

Mechanisms for the formation of secondary organic aerosol components from the gas-phase ozonolysis of alpha-pinene

Gas-phase ozonolysis of alpha-pinene was studied in static chamber experiments under 'OH-free' conditions. A range of multifunctional products-in particular low-volatility carboxylic acids-were identified in the condensed phase using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry after derivatisation. The dependence of product yields on reaction conditions (humidity, choice of OH radical scavengers, added Criegee intermediate scavengers, NO(2)etc.) was investigated to probe the mechanisms of formation of these products; additional information was obtained by studying the ozonolysis of an enal and an enone derived from alpha-pinene. On the basis of experimental findings, previously suggested mechanisms were evaluated and detailed gas-phase mechanisms were developed to explain the observed product formation. Atmospheric implications of this work are discussed.