Laser ablation and furnace techniques for sampling and detection in atomic emission spectrometry

Summary The potential of furnace techniques and of laser evaporation for the analysis of dry solution residues and of solids by different atomic emission procedures is described. The new one-step FANES technique (furnace atomic nonthermal emission spectrometry) is compared with the two-step procedure ETV-ICP-AES (electrothermal vaporisation—inductively coupled plasma—atomic emission spectrometry). In case of dry solution residues the sensitivity of the FANES is higher (1–2 orders of magnitude) as a result of better discharge conditions (low background) and direct sample introduction, particularly for volatile and moderately volatile substances. For refractory elements the higher gas temperature of the ICP plasma causes better atomisation, which can lead to higher sensitivity of the ETV-ICP-AES. A new Laser-FANES hybride technique is introduced for microanalysis in solid samples and compared with Laser-ICP-AES. The Laser-FANES is shown to combine the advantages of Laser-ETA-AAS (high sensitivity) and of Laser-ICP-AES (multielemental determinations), particularly for volatile and moderately volatile elements.     

High-throughput direct-infusion ion trap mass spectrometry: a new method for metabolomics

A fast method was developed to directly infuse raw plant extracts into a linear ion trap mass spectrometer, using the ion trap to isolate and fragment as many ions as possible from the extract. The full mass spectra can be analysed by multivariate statistics to determine discriminating ions, and the fragmentation data allows rapid classification or identification of these ions. The methodology was used to screen a wide range of strains of endophytic fungi in perennial ryegrass seeds for differences in metabolic profiles. The results show that this newly developed methodology is able to determine discriminating ions that can be present in very low concentrations. It also yielded sufficient fragmentation data to classify or identify the discriminating ions.     

Established and emerging atmospheric pressure surface sampling/ionization techniques for mass spectrometry

The number and type of atmospheric pressure techniques suitable for sampling analytes from surfaces, forming ions from these analytes, and subsequently transporting these ions into vacuum for interrogation by MS have rapidly expanded over the last several years. Moreover, the literature in this area is complicated by an explosion in acronyms for these techniques, many of which provide no information relating to the chemical or physical processes involved. In this tutorial article, we sort this vast array of techniques into relatively few categories on the basis of the approaches used for surface sampling and ionization. For each technique, we explain, as best known, many of the underlying principles of operation, describe representative applications, and in some cases, discuss needed research or advancements and attempt to forecast their future analytical utility. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of melamine certified reference material in milk using two different isotope dilution mass spectrometry techniques

A new certified reference material (CRM) of melamine in milk GLHK-11-02 was developed aiming to address the great demand from the testing community after the melamine crises. The material was prepared by adding an appropriate quantity of melamine into the skimmed milk samples and the final product was in the form of fine lyophilized powder. Characterization of the material relied on two newly developed gravimetric isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) methods, one using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and another gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Experimental parameters with crucial effects on the performance of the two IDMS methods were thoroughly investigated. These included purity of standard used, equilibration time of isotopes, efficiency of extraction methods as well as possible interferences from the matrix and melamine analogues. Precision was found to be excellent with a coefficient of variation of 2.5% for the LC-IDMS/MS (n=46) and 1.9% for the GC-IDMS (n=30) respectively. Using one-tail Student's t-test at 95% confidence interval, analytical data sets generated from the two methods were found to exhibit no significant difference. Measurement accuracy of the methods was further verified through an Asia Pacific Metrology Program (APMP) pilot study. Analytical results of the present LC-IDMS/MS for the two milk test samples at the concentration level of about 0.45 and 3.5 mg kg(-1) were proven to be very good. There were excellent overlaps between our results and the assigned reference values, and the absolute deviation was less than 3.2%. Both the LC-IDMS/MS and GC-IDMS methods were shown to be sufficiently reliable and accurate for certification of the melamine CRM. Certified value of melamine in dry mass fraction in GLHK-11-02 was 1.14 mg kg(-1). Expanded uncertainty due to sample inhomogeneity, long term and short term stability and variability in the characterization procedure was at 7.1% or 0.08 mg kg(-1). The CRM is primarily used to provide a complete method validation for and to improve the technical competence of melamine analysis to food and chemical testing laboratories.     

Crystal nucleation of hard spheres using molecular dynamics, umbrella sampling, and forward flux sampling: a comparison of simulation techniques

Over the last number of years several simulation methods have been introduced to study rare events such as nucleation. In this paper we examine the crystal nucleation rate of hard spheres using three such numerical techniques: molecular dynamics, forward flux sampling, and a Bennett-Chandler-type theory where the nucleation barrier is determined using umbrella sampling simulations. The resulting nucleation rates are compared with the experimental rates of Harland and van Megen [Phys. Rev. E 55, 3054 (1997)], Sinn et al. [Prog. Colloid Polym. Sci. 118, 266 (2001)], Sch?tzel and Ackerson [Phys. Rev. E 48, 3766 (1993)], and the predicted rates for monodisperse and 5% polydisperse hard spheres of Auer and Frenkel [Nature 409, 1020 (2001)]. When the rates are examined in units of the long-time diffusion coefficient, we find agreement between all the theoretically predicted nucleation rates, however, the experimental results display a markedly different behavior for low supersaturation. Additionally, we examined the precritical nuclei arising in the molecular dynamics, forward flux sampling, and umbrella sampling simulations. The structure of the nuclei appears independent of the simulation method, and in all cases, the nuclei contains on average significantly more face-centered-cubic ordered particles than hexagonal-close-packed ordered particles.     

Review: applications of mass spectrometry techniques in the investigation of milk proteome

The introduction of "soft" desorption/ionization methods such as electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization has determined a breakthrough in the application of mass spectrometry to the structural analysis of proteins. The contemporary advancement of bioinformatics, together with the possibility to combine these mass spectrometric methods with electrophoretic or chromatographic separation techniques has opened up the new field of proteome analysis and, more generally, has established these approaches as indispensable tools for protein and peptide analysis in complex mixtures, such as milk and milk- derived foods. Here, a necessarily not exhaustive series of current applications of mass spectrometry-based techniques for the characterization of milk proteins will be summarized. These include the characterization of milk protein polymorphism, determination of the structural modifications induced on milk proteins by industrial processes, investigation of milk adulterations and characterization of milk allergens.     

Analytical techniques for single-cell metabolomics: state of the art and trends

Single-cell metabolomics is an emerging field that addresses fundamental biological questions and allows one to observe metabolic phenomena in heterogeneous populations of single cells. In this review, we assess the suitability of different detection techniques and present considerations on sample preparation for single-cell metabolomics. Although targeted analysis of single cells can readily be conducted using fluorescent probes and optical instruments (microscopes, fluorescence detectors), a comprehensive metabolomic approach requires a powerful label-free method, such as mass spectrometry (MS). Mass-spectrometric techniques applied to study small molecules in single cells include electrospray MS, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MS, and secondary ion MS. Sample preparation is an important aspect to be taken into account during further development of methods for single-cell metabolomics.     

Computational mass spectrometry for metabolomics: Identification of metabolites and small molecules

The identification of compounds from mass spectrometry (MS) data is still seen as a major bottleneck in the interpretation of MS data. This is particularly the case for the identification of small compounds such as metabolites, where until recently little progress has been made. Here we review the available approaches to annotation and identification of chemical compounds based on electrospray ionization (ESI-MS) data. The methods are not limited to metabolomics applications, but are applicable to any small compounds amenable to MS analysis. Starting with the definition of identification, we focus on the analysis of tandem mass and MS(n) spectra, which can provide a wealth of structural information. Searching in libraries of reference spectra provides the most reliable source of identification, especially if measured on comparable instruments. We review several choices for the distance functions. The identification without reference spectra is even more challenging, because it requires approaches to interpret tandem mass spectra with regard to the molecular structure. Both commercial and free tools are capable of mining general-purpose compound libraries, and identifying candidate compounds. The holy grail of computational mass spectrometry is the de novo deduction of structure hypotheses for compounds, where method development has only started thus far. In a case study, we apply several of the available methods to the three compounds, kaempferol, reserpine, and verapamil, and investigate whether this results in reliable identifications.     

亲水作用色谱-串联质谱法测定乳及乳制品中左旋肉碱

建立了亲水作用色谱-串联四极杆质谱测定乳及乳制品中左旋肉碱的分析方法。样品经2%(v/v)乙酸水溶液提取、乙腈沉淀蛋白质净化,以乙酸铵和乙腈为流动相,经Acquity UPLC BEH HILIC色谱柱分离后采用电喷雾质谱多反应监测(MRM)方式扫描,外标法定量。结果表明,左旋肉碱的质量浓度在1~100 μg/L范围内线性关系良好(r²> 0.99),定量限为0.01 mg/kg。标准加入法测定左旋肉碱在高、中、低3个加标水平的回收率为96.0%~103.4%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.2%~4.3%。该方法前处理简单、快速,检测结果准确、灵敏,可为各类乳及乳制品中左旋肉碱的含量水平测定、研究和控制提供技术支持。     

A comparison of two techniques for inducing fibrous crystallization from solution

Experimental results are presented and discussed comparing two techniques for inducing fibrous growth of polyethylene crystals from flowing solutions: a plunging cone device and a standard rotating cylinder (Couette) device. Comparison of crystal “overgrowth” diameter to spacing ratios for the several experiments with predictions based on an earlier postulated model lead to conclusions regarding the model inadequacy. A detailed comparison is made of the melting behavior of crystals produced by both flow fields and those results are discussed in light of a modified model for the growth process presented elsewhere. The conclusion is reached that differences in melting behavior may be attributed to differences in extension of the high molecular weight chains involved in the growth processes occurring in the two different flow fields.     

Atmospheric pressure surface sampling/ionization techniques for direct coupling of planar separations with mass spectrometry

Planar separations, which include thin layer chromatography and gel electrophoresis, are in widespread use as important and powerful tools for conducting separations of complex mixtures. To increase the utility of planar separations, new methods are needed that allow in situ characterization of the individual components of the separated mixtures. A large number of atmospheric pressure surface sampling and ionization techniques for use with mass spectrometry have emerged in the past several years, and several have been investigated as a means for mass spectrometric read-out of planar separations. In this article, we review the atmospheric pressure surface sampling and ionization techniques that have been used for the read-out of planar separation media. For each technique, we briefly explain the operational basics and discuss the analyte type for which it is appropriate and some specific applications from the literature.     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定乳与乳制品中牛乳铁蛋白

建立了超高效液相色谱-串联质谱技术定量检测乳制品中牛乳铁蛋白含量的方法。样品经脱脂、酶解后,利用超高效液相色谱-四极杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱(UPLC-Q/Exactive-HRMS)和Protein Pilot软件分析,实现了乳铁蛋白及其肽段的鉴定;通过初级局部序列搜索工具(basic local alignment search tool, BLAST)与Uniprot数据库对比分析筛选出牛乳铁蛋白的8个特征肽段;选择其中3个响应强度高、稳定性好的特征肽段进一步通过超高效液相色谱-三重四极杆质谱(UPLC-QqQ-MS)进行验证和多反应监测(MRM)定量研究,并考察了空白基质匹配的外标法和内标法对乳铁蛋白检测结果的差异。采用外标法定量时,3个肽段在各自范围内线性关系良好,检出限为0.023～0.041 mg/kg,定量限为0.077～0.137 mg/kg,平均回收率为93.8%～103.9%,日内精密度≤8.8%,日间精密度≤9.5%。该方法抗干扰能力强,灵敏度高,重复性好,适用于乳及乳制品中牛乳铁蛋白的含量测定。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定乳及乳制品中大观霉素药物残留

建立了检测乳及乳制品中大观霉素药物残留量的高效液相色谱-串联质谱方法。样品直接采用0.1 mol/L乙二胺四乙酸二钠水溶液提取。挥发性离子对试剂七氟丁酸水溶液和甲醇作为流动相,增加了大观霉素的保留时间。本方法对液态奶、奶粉、酸奶、奶酪、奶油中大观霉素的测定低限均为100μg/kg。方法的线性范围为5～500 ng/mL(相关系数r0.991),回收率为75.6%～99.3%,相对标准偏差小于7.5%,能够满足乳及乳制品中大观霉素残留量的快速检测。     

Macro,minor and trace elements in bovine milk from two Brazilian dairy regions

Brazil started to export dairy products in the early 2000s and since then has slowly consolidated its position in the world dairy market. To ensure the position in the international market by improving the quality of milk produced in the country, the government created a national program and a network of laboratories for milk quality. The Normative Instruction 51 (Instrução Normativa 51—IN51) was introduced within the national program establishing parameters for milk quality and safety. In spite of not being included in the IN51, chemical elements are under thorough discussion as quality parameters for their nutritional and toxicological relevance. This work aimed at evaluating the quality of milk from one of the major dairy regions in Brazil, located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, by the determination of chemical elements, comparing the results with those previously obtained for milk samples from the main dairy region of the country, in the state of Minas Gerais. Samples were collected from cooling tanks in nineteen dairy farms. After freeze drying, chemical elements were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For ten out of sixteen chemical elements determined, there were significant differences between samples from both producing regions (p < 0.01).     

Configurations and calibration methods for passive sampling techniques

Passive sampling technology has developed very quickly in the past 15 years, and is widely used for the monitoring of pollutants in different environments. The design and quantification of passive sampling devices require an appropriate calibration method. Current calibration methods that exist for passive sampling, including equilibrium extraction, linear uptake, and kinetic calibration, are presented in this review. A number of state-of-the-art passive sampling devices that can be used for aqueous and air monitoring are introduced according to their calibration methods.     

Kinetic 12C/13C isotope fractionation by invertase: evidence for a small in vitro isotope effect and comparison of two techniques for the isotopic analysis of carbohydrates

The natural ¹³C/¹²C isotope composition (δ¹³C) of plants and organic compounds within plant organs is a powerful tool to understand carbon allocation patterns and the regulation of photosynthetic or respiratory metabolism. However, many enzymatic fractionations are currently unknown, thus impeding our understanding of carbon trafficking pathways within plant cells. One of them is the ¹²C/¹³C isotope effect associated with invertases (EC 3.2.1.26) that are cornerstone enzymes for Suc metabolism and translocation in plants. Another conundrum of isotopic plant biology is the need to measure accurately the specific δ¹³C of individual carbohydrates. Here, we examined two complementary methods for measuring the δ¹³C value of sucrose, glucose and fructose, that is, off‐line high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification followed by elemental analysis and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA‐IRMS) analysis, and gas chromatography‐combustion (GC‐C)‐IRMS. We also used these methods to determine the in vitro ¹²C/¹³C isotope effect associated with the yeast invertase. Our results show that, although providing more variable values than HPLC～EA‐IRMS, and being sensitive to derivatization conditions, the GC‐C‐IRMS method gives reliable results. When applied to the invertase reaction, both methods indicate that the ¹²C/¹³C isotope effect is rather small and it is not affected by the use of heavy water (D₂O). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.