Identification of organic acids in bayer liquors by GC-MS: a comparison using butylation and methylation

Two well known derivatization methods, butylation and methylation, are compared by gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) to identify organic acids in Bayer liquors. These two derivatization methods should be combined together for the determination of the carboxylic acids. Twenty-four organic acids are identified by GC-MS and 13 organic acids are firstly found in Bayer liquors. The retention times and the carbon number of these seven n-dicarboxylic acids (C(4)-C(10)) are fit into the linear relationship in Microsoft Excel.     

Chromatographic techniques in inborn errors of metabolism

Chromatography has played a pivotal role in the advances made during the last 30 years in our knowledge of inborn errors of metabolism. This review discusses the application of some of these techniques to the analysis of organic acids and acylcarnitines. The separation of organic acids needed a comprehensive approach that would permit all of the many organic acids present in urine or other complex mixtures to be extracted, analysed and identified in a single run. This required analytical methods of great resolving power, wide linear range and universal detectors such as gas chromatography (GC), or GC coupled with mass spectrometry. Sample preparation was another problem that has been tackled by a variety of approaches. Organic solvents have been employed widely for the extraction of organic acids from physiological fluids. Unfortunately, recoveries of the different organic acids by this method are sometimes less than quantitative and variable depending on the compound. Other methods, such as the use of DEAE-Sephadex columns, have the advantage of resulting in close to 100% recoveries, but are more tedious. Liquid partition chromatography on short silicic acid columns has also been recommended as a useful clean-up step prior to GC, permitting both the identification and quantitation of organic acids in urine, plasma or amniotic fluid. Although many derivatization procedure have been used to prepare organic acids for gas chromatography, the most common is trimethylsilylation. Oxo acids are usually reacted with one of several commonly used reagents to form oximes. GC analysis of organic acids was initially done using packed columns with methylsilicone-based, non-polar stationary phases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

N-Methylation and N,N-dimethylation of amino acids. An artifact production in the analysis of organic acids using diazomethane as derivatizing agent

In the fractions of the methyl esters of urinary organic acids seventeen N-methylated or N,N-dimethylated amino acid methyl esters are identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It is shown for twelve amino acids that their amino group reacts with diazomethane to form these derivatives. Using deuterated reagents, in particular deuterated diazomethane, in the sample preparation procedure during the organic acid analysis, it is shown that the N-methylated and N,N-dimethylated amino acids are artifacts from diazomethane and are not biochemical N-methylation products.     

Identification of Abnormal Urinary Organic Acids in Inherited Metabolic Diseases by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) coupled system has been established for the confirmatory identification of abnormal urinary organic acids in inherited metabolic diseases. Samples of patient urines were extracted with an organic solvent and trimethylsilylated (TMS). A mass spectra of gas chromatographically separated TMS derivatives can be obtained using the GC/MS coupled system with a single analytical run. Those compounds with close methylene units (e.g., 4-hydroxyphenylacetaic acid and phenylpyruvic acid) in the gas chromatograph can be identified by their specific mass spectra. The results indicate that this GC/MS system is a powerful method for identifying abnormal urinary organic acids. These acids can be identified by comparison with authentic mass spectra established in our laboratories or with mass spectra files from other sources or they can be directly identified by analysis of the mass spectrum. By using this system, we were able to make positive identification of several inherited metabolic diseases found in Chinese patients, including phenylketonuria, propionic acidemia, and methylmalonic aciduria. This GC/MS system is a powerful tool for the diagnosis of inherited metabolic diseases.     

Pyrolysis—gas chromatography—mass spectrometry of a low organic matter calcareous soil

A modification to the general method of pyrolysis-gas chromatography of soils which improves the reproducibility of the technique is described. It has been applied to the study of a calcareous soil, low in organic matter and varations have been studied in programs from soil at different depths as well as from the corresponding humic acids, fulvic acids and extraction residues.Most of the major peaks have identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: they correspond to those cited in earlier works. Data are presented on the characteristics of the pyrolysis products of this soil in the relation to their probobic origin. The evolution of organic matter through various pyrolysis relations is also discussed.     

Fatty acids and amino acids of entomopathogenic fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Conidiobolus coronatus</Emphasis> grow on minimal and rich media

Entomopathogenic fungi are referred to as potential candidates as insect pest control agents. The objective of the study was to identify fatty acids and amino acids from Conidiobolus coronatus cultured on two different media. Each medium was extracted with ethyl acetate and its mixtures with isopropanol, acetonitrile and methanol. Analyses of fatty acids and amino acids of entomopathogenic fungus C. coronatus were performed by means of gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The analysis showed that the fungus C. coronatus produces the following groups of compounds: fatty acids and amino acids; α- and β-glucopyranose were also identified. The identified fatty acids included 12–20, 22 and 24 carbon atoms per chain. The highest content of fatty acids was detected in a mycelium sample cultured in a liquid minimal medium extracted with ethyl acetate. The lowest content of these organic compounds was identified in mycelium cultured in a liquid nutrient-rich medium extracted with ethyl acetate–methanol mixture. Fatty acids were found to account for 62.0 mass % to 94.4 mass % of all organic compounds in the analyzed mycelia. C18:1 acids were detected in the highest amounts when ethyl acetate was used as the extracting agent. The identified amino acids accounted for 4 mass % to 21 mass % of all organic compounds. Upon extraction of C. coronatus mycelium samples with the ethyl acetate—methanol mixture, two anomeric forms of glucose were also identified. An analysis of the studied material confirmed, that the entomopathogenic fungus C. coronatus is a very rich source of organic compounds, which might encourage its further research so as to identify an even larger number of compounds being produced by this species.     

Mass spectroscopic approach to amino acids formation processes by UV irradiation to simple organic molecules in aqueous solution.

We have studied amino acid formation by UV (193 nm) irradiation to organic molecules (amines, alcohols and amides) in aqueous solution. Among several types of detected amino acids, small aliphatic amino acids (Gly and alpha-, beta-Ala and alpha-, beta-, gamma-ABA) were quantitatively identified. Among these small aliphatic amino acids, certain amino acids were formed in its free form, even before hydrolysis, contrary to the results of UV irradiation to a gas mixture of CO, NH3, and H2O, where amino acids were hardly detected before hydrolysis. The species distribution of identified amino acids showed a dependence on the starting organic molecules, and also on the presence of ammonia. The formation processes of the identified small aliphatic amino acids were investigated with the aid of electrospray ionization (ESI) MS and MS/MS measurements of photoproducts. Possible formation processes of these amino acid precursors from each starting molecules are proposed. By identifying the amino acid precursor, which has a chiral carbon atom, a new possibility is suggested for asymmetric photosynthesis of amino acid from achiral organic molecules.     

Electrophoretic clean-up of organic acids from coffee for the GC/MS analysis

The clean-up presented here includes a free flow field step electrophoresis followed by ultrafiltration. Thus, organic acids can be separated from non-acidic and high-molecular compounds in roasted and instant coffee. The acids are identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after freeze-drying and trimethylsilylation. With the method presented, 31 acids could be identified in commercial roasted coffee blends and in instant coffee, among them for the first time in coffee: 3-hydroxypropionic, 2-oxobutyric, glyceric, 2,4-dihydroxybutyric, 5-hydroxymethylfuran-2-carboxylic and 2-hydroxyglutaric acid.     

Electrophoretic clean-up of organic acids from coffee for the GC/MS analysis

The clean-up presented here includes a free flow field step electrophoresis followed by ultrafiltration. Thus, organic acids can be separated from non-acidic and high-molecular compounds in roasted and instant coffee. The acids are identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after freeze-drying and trimethylsilylation. With the method presented, 31 acids could be identified in commercial roasted coffee blends and in instant coffee, among them for the first time in coffee: 3-hydroxypropionic, 2-oxobutyric, glyceric, 2,4-dihydroxybutyric, 5-hydroxymethylfuran-2-carboxylic and 2-hydroxyglutaric acid.     

界面衍生化气相色谱法测定葡萄酒中总有机酸

利用离子交换树脂分离、富集葡萄酒中总有机酸并直接在树脂界面上乙酯化,结合气相色谱／质谱法,鉴定并分析了葡萄酒中２１种有机酸。     

Characterisation of aroma volatiles of indigenous alcoholic beverages: burukutu and pito

Pito and burukutu are indigenous alcoholic beverages in Nigeria, and are fermentation products of Sorghum bicolor and Sorghum vulgare. The production is similar to that of beer, which involves steeping, malting, mashing and fermenting. A total of 30 volatile organic compounds were identified by gas chromatography. These compounds can be broadly grouped into alkanols, phenols, acids, esters, ketones and aldehydes. Although few acids are present, they are dominant (30.887% and 27.669%) and followed by esters (26.467% and 27.442%) in pito and burukutu, respectively. Alkanols constitute the next dominant group after acids and esters; however, ethanol was not identified as a constituent. The health and social implication of the constituents are explained.     

气相色谱-质谱联用法分析烟丝中有机酸成分

采用三氟化硼和甲醇对西湖香烟烟丝样品进行衍生化反应，以二氯甲烷为萃取液，得到烟丝样品有机酸甲酯成分，在GC/MX气相色谱/质谱联用仪上定性和定量分析，共鉴定出有机酸41种，主要成分依次为苹果酸、柠檬酸、亚麻酸。实验表明分析方法简便、快速，结果令人满意。     

Metabolic profiling of Lactococcus lactis under different culture conditions

Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS/GC-MS) were used to study metabolites produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363 grown at a temperature of 30 °C with and without agitation at 150 rpm, and at 37 °C without agitation. It was observed that L. lactis produced more organic acids under agitation. Primary alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and polyols were identified as the corresponding trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives, whereas amino acids and organic acids, including fatty acids, were detected through methyl chloroformate derivatization. HS analysis indicated that branched-chain methyl aldehydes, including 2-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutanal, and 2-methylpropanal are degdradation products of isoleucine, leucine or valine. Multivariate analysis (MVA) using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed the major differences between treatments were due to changes of amino acids and fermentation products.     

Capillary gas chromatographic analysis of volatile and non-volatile organic acids from biological samples as the t-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives

A quantitative procedure for the analysis of volatile organic acids and lactic acid in silage is described. The samples were extracted with diethyl ether, derivatized by t-butyldimethylsilylation, and then separated by capillary gas chromatography. The same procedure was useful for the identification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of organic acids in samples such as the metabolic fermentation products of anaerobic bacteria.     

Chromatographic profile of high boiling point organic acids in human urine

The profile of high boiling point organic acids in urine samples from both normal subjects and patients suspected of having some form of metabolic disorder has been determined by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fifteen different compounds eluting after hippuric acid have been identified, including two, cinnamoylglycine and acetyltributylcitrate, which have not been recognised previously. Relative retention times and abbreviated mass spectra of the identified compounds are presented.     

Sample preparation for organic acids in biological fluids

A review of sample preparation methods for organic acids in biological fluids, in particular serum and urine, is presented. It covers techniques on organic acid determination without sample preparation, release of organic acids from binding locations, removal of proteins by protein precipitation and ultrafiltration, isolation of the organic acids by liquid-liquid and liquid-solid extraction, purification of the extract, derivatization and pre-fractionation. The various alternative sample preparation steps are compared and critically discussed. Examples of applications including profile analysis of organic acids by gas chromatography (GC), determination of particular organic acids by GC or liquid chromatography and determination of fatty acids as a distinct chemical class of acids demonstrate that the kind of sample preparation chosen depends strongly on the analytical aims.     

Simultaneous quantitation of Krebs cycle and related acids by mass fragmentography

Methods are described for simultaneous quantitation of Krebs cycle and related acids by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry using deuterium-labelled acids and n-butyl-d9-esters of the organic acids as internal standards. Using sulphuric acid as esterification catalyst, only lactic, succinic, fumaric, malic, maleic and citric acids were found to be stable to hydrogen exchange and could be used as reference standards in the deuterated form. In contrast, pyruvic, oxalacetic, alpha-ketoglutaric and malonic acids were found to exchange their deuterium readily and could not be employed for this purpose. All the acids could be quantitated using n-butyl-d9-esters of reference organic acids as internal standards, following a separate preparation of the n-butyl derivatives of the unknown acids. The method is suitable for routine analysis of organic acids at the picogram level in perchloric acid extracts of tissues.     

Metabolic profiling of urinary organic acids by single and multicolumn capillary gas chromatography

High-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) are the techniques of choice to determine the retention indices of more than 200 organic acids as their trimethylsilyl (TMS) or oxime-trimethylsilyl derivatives. Several types of apolar and semipolar fused-silica capillary columns (OV-1, SE-52, and OV-1701), used to analyze and separate organic acids isolated from urine samples, are evaluated.     

Identification and determination of phenols and chloro-phenols in very dilute aqueous solutions by gas-liquid chromatography,paper chromatography and spectrophotometry

After concentration of the organic substances from water samples of 700 to 20,000 l by adsorption on active carbon and desorption with chloroform in a large Soxhlet apparatus, tlie organic compounds were separated by extraction into 5 different groups: acids, phenols, bases, neutral and amphoteric substances. The phenol group was investigated by gas and paper chromatography, ultraviolet difference spectrophotometry and infrared spectroscopy. Phenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophcnol, 2- and 3-cresol, 2,4-xylenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol were identified in samples of raw and treated water. Quantitative measurements proved to be possible with gas chromatography. The conditions for quantitative desorption and separation were studied.     

Capillary gas chromatographic separation of urinary organic acids. Retention indices of 101 urinary acids on a 5% phenylmethyl silicone capillary column

Gas chromatographic retention indices (methylene units) are reported for 101 urinary organic acids as their trimethylsilyl and oximated trimethylsilyl derivatives on a 5% phenylmethyl silicone fused silica capillary column. Using anion exchange chromatography, organic acids were extracted from urines of five healthy individuals, seven patients with neuroblastoma, and nine patients with inherited organic acidurias. Separation of the various acids was achieved by capillary gas chromatography and identification was done by mass spectrometry using a computerized library search program. All identifications were confirmed by visual comparison with reference mass spectra. Standard deviations of the retention indices for all acids were less than 0.035 methylene units and for 46 acids less than 0.01 methylene units. Three chromatograms of urine from individuals with neuroblastoma, phenylketonuria, and propionic acidemia and one from a healthy individual are shown.