Development of hemoglobin A1c certified reference material by liquid chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry

We report the development of a National Institute of Metrology (NIM) hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c) certified reference material (CRM). Each CRM unit contains about 10 μL of hemoglobin. Both hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin were quantitatively determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) with synthesized VHLTPE and glycated VHLTPE as standards. The mass fraction of synthesized VHLTPE or glycated VHLTPE was also quantitatively determined by HPLC-IDMS with NIM amino acid CRMs as standards. The homogeneity and stability of the CRMs were examined with a commercial HbA_1c analyzer based on the HPLC principle. Fifteen units were randomly selected for homogeneity examination, and statistical analysis showed there was no inhomogeneity. Examination of the stability showed that the CRM was stable for at least 6 months at -80 °C. Uncertainty components of the balance, amino acid purity, hydrolysis and proteolysis efficiency, method reproducibility, homogeneity, and stability were taken into consideration for uncertainty evaluation. The certified value of NIM HbA_1c CRM was expressed as the ratio of HbA_1c to total hemoglobin in moles, and was (9.6 ± 1.9)% . The CRM can be used as a calibration or validation standard for clinical diagnostics. It is expected to improve the comparability for HbA_1c measurement in China.     

气相色谱-质谱法分析蜂蜜中多种有机氯农药残留

建立了气相色谱-电子轰击离子化-质谱法（GC-EI-MS）同时分析蜂蜜试样中12种有机氯农药残留的分析方法.蜂蜜试样用V（正己烷）：V（乙酸乙酯）=5：1混合提取剂超声提取和Florisil硅藻土层析柱净化后,以PCB 103为内标物,采用GC-EI-MS的选择离子监测方式（SIM）分析,同时探讨了一些有机氯农药EI-MS特征离子的结构与断裂机理.当空白试样的加标浓度为10、50、200μg/kg时,加标回收率为80%～112%,相对标准偏差为0.4%～9.8%,方法检出限为0.2～4.0μg/kg,其中8种农药的MDL＜1.0μg/kg,线性范围为10～500μg/kg,相关系数皆大于0.996,此方法已用于蜂蜜试样中多种痕量有机氯农药残留的分析.     

同位素稀释气相色谱-质谱法测定土壤/底泥中23种有机氯农药

建立了同位素稀释气相色谱-质谱法(ID-GC-MS))测定土壤/底泥中23种有机氯农药残留的分析方法。样品经干燥、研磨、筛分处理后用250 mL丙酮-正己烷(体积比为1:1)混合溶剂进行索氏提取24 h,再经铜粉、凝胶渗透色谱和弗罗里硅土固相萃取柱净化,最后用DB-5毛细管柱进行分离和电子轰击电离源质谱在选择离子监测模式下进行检测,并用 13C标记同位素稀释内标法定量。实验结果表明,23种化合物的标准曲线的线性相关性良好,线性范围为50～1600 μg/L,同位素内标的回收率范围为60%～110%,相对标准偏差为1.5%～18%;方法的检出限为0.20～10.3 μg/kg。该方法的净化效果较好,定量准确,适用于土壤/底泥这类复杂基质中农药残留的确证分析。     

贻贝中有机氯农药和多氯联苯标准物质的研制及同位素稀释高分辨质谱法定值

建立了贻贝中有机氯农药(OCPs)和多氯联苯(PCBs)标准物质的研制和定值方法,该研究对我国开展环境生物标准物质的研制具有重要的方法学借鉴价值。该标准物质样品为采自大连湾海域的贻贝,其定值目标物包括18种OCPs和16种PCBs,采用的定值测量方法是目前世界上最权威、最准确的同位素稀释-高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱联用法(ID-HRGC/HRMS)。所研制的标准物质具有定值目标物种类多、不确定度较小(约10%)等特点。该标准物质是目前国际上唯一一种采用同位素稀释高分辨质谱法进行定值的底栖生物中OCPs标准物质,于2012年3月通过了国家一级标准物质的终审,并于2012年6月被国家质量监督检验检疫总局批准为国家一级标准物质(GBW10069)。该标准物质可用于食品安全控制、环境监测、质量检测等领域相关分析方法的评价、测量质量控制及技术仲裁检验等。     

Development of a candidate certified reference material of cypermethrin in green tea

This paper presents the preparation of a candidate certified reference material (CRM) of cypermethrin in green tea, GLHK-11-01a according to the requirements of ISO Guide 34 and 35. Certification of the material was performed using a newly developed isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) approach, with gas chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS) and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA) showed excellent agreement of the analytical data sets generated from the two mass spectrometric detections. The characterization methods have also been satisfactorily applied in an Asia-Pacific Metrology Program (APMP) interlaboratory comparison study. Both the GC–HRIDMS and GC–IDMS/MS methods proved to be sufficiently reliable and accurate for certification purpose. The certified value of cypermethrin in dry mass fraction was 148 μg kg⁻¹ and the associated expanded uncertainty was 14 μg kg⁻¹. The uncertainty budget was evaluated from sample in homogeneity, long-term and short-term stability and variability in the characterization procedure. GLHK-11-01a is primarily developed to support the local and wider testing community on need basis in quality assurance work and in seeking accreditation.     

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.     

Preparation and certification of a fish oil natural matrix reference material for organochlorine pesticides

The mass fractions of six organochlorine pesticides in a fish oil certified reference material (CRM) have been determined using multiple methods of analysis. Fish oil was extracted from the filet of Tilapia fish collected from the River Nile, and this CRM was recently issued by the National Institute of Standards (NIS). It can be used as natural matrix CRM for organochlorine pesticides determination in fish and for marine environmental measurement purposes. The analytical methods used are described, and the obtained results were combined to calculate the mass fractions of the six detected organochlorine pesticides and their associated uncertainty values. It has been concluded that mass fractions of four pesticides are certified values. These are 1,1-(dichloroethylidene)bis[4-chlorobenzene](4,4′-DDE), 1,1-(2,2,-dichloroethylidene)bis[4-chlorobenzene] (4,4′-DDD), 1-chloro-2-[2,2,2-trichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]benzene (2,4′-DDT) and 1,1-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)bis[4-chlorobenzene] (4,4′-DDT). Meanwhile, mass fractions of two pesticides were reference values. These are heptachlor and 1-chloro-2-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]benzene (2,4′-DDD).     

Determination of organochlorine pesticides in sewage sludge by matrix solid-phase dispersion and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) has been developed for the determination of 16 organochlorine pesticides (OCs) in sludge from municipal sewage plants. Samples of lyophilized sludge were blended with alumina, placed in small columns and OCs extracted with dichloromethane assisted by sonication. Purification of the extracts was accomplished by solid-phase extraction on C₁₈ columns and OCs were eluted with acetonitrile. Analyses were performed by gas chromatography with electron impact mass spectrometric detection in the selected ion monitoring mode (GC–MS-SIM) using deuterated OCs as internal standards. The limits of detection were between 0.03 ng/g for 4,4′-DDE and 0.7 ng/g for endrin aldehyde.

Levels of OCs were determined in sewage sludge collected from 19 water treatment plants located in the province of Madrid (Spain). In all of the analyzed samples, aldrin was the compound most often found with a mean concentration of 76 ng/g. Endosulfan-I, -BHC, 4,4′-DDE and 4,4′-DDT were also present at high concentrations, with average values ranging from 32.3 to 74.3 ng/g. OCs were detected in all of the samples, with a total concentration ranging from 52 to 528 ng/g dry weight.     

Determination of organochlorine pesticides in complex matrices by single-drop microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A rapid and simple single-drop microextraction method (SDME) has been used to preconcentrate eighteen organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from water samples with a complex matrix. Exposing two microlitre toluene drop to an aqueous sample contaminated with OCPs proved an excellent preconcentration method prior to analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A Plackett-Burman design was used for screening and a central composite design for optimizing the significant variables in order to evaluate several possibly influential and/or interacting factors. The studied variables were drop volume, aqueous sample volume, agitation speed, ionic strength and extraction time. The optimum experimental conditions of the proposed SDME method were: 2 μL toluene microdrop exposed for 37 min to 10 mL of the aqueous sample containing 0% w/v NaCl and stirred at 380 rpm.The calculated calibration curves gave high-level linearity for all target analytes with correlation coefficients ranging between 0.9991 and 0.9999. The repeatability of the proposed method, expressed as relative standard deviation, varied between 5.9 and 9.9% (n = 8). The detection limits were in the range of 0.022-0.101 μg L⁻¹ using GC-MS with selective ion monitoring. The LOD values obtained are able to detect these OCPs in aqueous matrices as required by EPA Method 625. Analysis of spiked effluent wastewater samples revealed that the matrix had no effect on extraction for eleven of the analytes but exerted notable effect for the other analytes.     

Development of a pressurized liquid extraction and clean-up procedure for the determination of alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate in aged contaminated Ethiopian soils

Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was investigated for the extraction of two endosulfan isomers and their metabolite from two real contaminated soil samples. PLE for 3x10min at 100 degrees C was proven to be more exhaustive than Soxhlet extraction (SOX) in one soil sample. On the other soil sample investigated the method was found to be equally exhaustive as SOX. The use of hazardous organic solvents such as n-hexane, toluene, and diethyl ether has been avoided in PLE and clean-up. Instead less toxic solvents have been used both at the extraction step (acetone/n-heptane) and clean-up step (ethyl acetate/n-heptane). A column Florisil clean-up procedure that consumes relatively low solvent volumes has been optimized and applied to purify soil extracts. The developed analytical procedure was validated by applying it to a certified reference soil material (CRM811-050). A recovery of 103% total endosulfan residue was obtained versus certified values.     

Analysis of endosulfan isomers and endosulfan sulfate in air and tomato leaves by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection and confirmation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Rapid analytical methods for the determination of endosulfan isomers and endosulfan-sulfate in air and plant samples were developed. The insecticides were trapped from air using a column containing Florisil and extracted with a low volume of ethyl acetate, assisted by sonication. Pesticide residues were determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection using a nonpolar capillary column. Residue identities were confirmed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Recoveries of these compounds from air samples were always higher than 78% with an RSD lower than 11% and the detection limits obtained were at least 0.3 ng/l air. Leaf samples were homogenised with ethyl acetate and extracts cleaned-up on an aluminium oxide column. Pesticides were eluted with a hexane-ethyl acetate (80:20, v/v) mixture. Recoveries obtained from plant samples were higher than 78% with an RSD lower than 14% and detection limits in leaves were 0.02 microg/g for each pesticide. These methods were applied to study the volatilisation of endosulfan from tomato leaves under laboratory conditions. A volatilisation rate near 1% of the initial amount of endosulfan per hour was obtained during the first 24 h at room temperature.     

Determination of organochlorine pesticides in water samples by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A rapid and simple dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) has been developed to preconcentrate eighteen organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from water samples prior to analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The studied variables were extraction solvent type and volume, disperser solvent type and volume, aqueous sample volume and temperature. The optimum experimental conditions of the proposed DLLME method were: a mixture of 10 μL tetrachloroethylene (extraction solvent) and 1 mL acetone (disperser solvent) exposed for 30 s to 10 mL of the aqueous sample at room temperature (20 °C). Centrifugation of cloudy solution was carried out at 2300 rpm for 3 min to allow phases separation. Finally, 2 μL of extractant was recovered and injected into the GC-MS instrument. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors ranged between 46 and 316. The calculated calibration curves gave a high-level linearity for all target analytes with correlation coefficients ranging between 0.9967 and 0.9999. The repeatability of the proposed method, expressed as relative standard deviation, varied between 5% and 15% (n = 8), and the detection limits were in the range of 1-25 ng L⁻¹. The LOD values obtained are able to detect these OCPs in aqueous matrices as required by EPA methods 525.2 and 625. Analysis of spiked real water samples revealed that the matrix had no effect on extraction for river, surface and tap waters; however, urban wastewater sample shown a little effect for five out of eighteen analytes.     

Certification of methylmercury in cod fish tissue certified reference material by species-specific isotope dilution mass spectrometric analysis

A new cod fish tissue certified reference material, NMIJ CRM 7402-a, for methylmercury analysis was certified by the National Metrological Institute of Japan in the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST). Cod fish was collected from the sea close to Japan. The cod muscle was powdered by freeze-pulverization and was placed into 600 glass bottles (10 g each), which were sterilized with γ-ray irradiation. The certification was carried out using species-specific isotope dilution gas chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SSID–GC–ICPMS), where ²⁰²Hg-enriched methylmercury (MeHg) was used as the spike compound. In order to avoid any possible analytical biases caused by nonquantitative extraction, degradation and/or formation of MeHg in sample preparations, two different extraction methods (KOH/methanol and HCl/methanol extractions) were performed, and one of these extraction methods utilized two different derivatization methods (ethylation and phenylation). A double ID method was adopted to minimize the uncertainty arising from the analyses. In order to ensure not only the reliability of the analytical results but also traceability to SI units, the standard solution of MeHg used for the reverse-ID was prepared from high-purity MeHg chloride and was carefully assayed as follows: the total mercury was determined by ID–ICPMS following aqua regia digestion, and the ratio of Hg as MeHg to the total Hg content was estimated by GC–ICPMS. The certified value given for MeHg is 0.58 ± 0.02 mg kg⁻¹ as Hg. Figure NMIJ CRM 7402-a: cod fish tissue for MeHg analysis     

同位素稀释气相色谱-质谱法测定茶叶中5种杀菌剂残留

建立了使用固相萃取-气相色谱/质谱联用结合同位素稀释技术准确测定3种茶叶(红茶、绿茶和普洱茶)中敌菌丹、克菌丹、灭菌丹、百菌清和苯氟磺胺等杀菌剂农药残留的新方法。茶叶试样中加入同位素内标D6-克菌丹,经乙腈匀浆提取,提取液离心后取上清液经Forisil固相萃取柱浓缩、净化。GC-MS采用选择离子监测(SIM)模式进行定性定量分析,内标法定量。方法的添加回收率为74.1%～100.6%;相对标准偏差为1.2%～12%;6种农药的检出限为0.002～0.14μg/mL。     

Analysis of urinary biomarkers for exposure to alkyl benzenes by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A validated GC-MS method for the analysis of urinary metabolites of alkyl benzenes is reported. Metabolites for exposure to toluene, xylene and ethylbenzene were analyzed simultaneously using stable isotope substituted internal standards. The method entailed acidic deconjugation of urine samples followed by extractive alkylation with pentafluorobenzyl bromide as alkylating agent. The resulting pentafluorobenzyl derivatives of ortho-, meta-, para-cresol, mandelic acid (MA), hippuric acid (HA) and ortho-, meta-, para-methylhippuric acid (MHA) were then quantified by SIM. Optimized reaction conditions for the extractive alkylation step are reported. The derivatives were found to be sufficiently stable for overnight batch analysis. The LODs were below 0.1 micromol/L for the cresols and below 1 micromol/L for MA and the HAs. Within-batch precision for o-MHA was 7%, for m-MHA 5%, for p-MHA 5.2% and below 5% for the rest of the analytes.     

Quantification of five neonicotinoids in human urine by modified QuEChERS with isotope dilution mass spectrometry: a preliminary study for the development of certified reference material

ABSTRACT

A study for the quantification method of neonicotinoid pesticides (Neos) in human urine that aims to develop the certified reference material (CRM) in the future was carried out. A modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method based on dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) with isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) was evaluated for the quantification of five Neos (acetamiprid, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam) in human urine control by optimisation of the extraction solvent, and the type and amount of d-SPE material. Two types of human urine controls (sample A and B) containing 5 μg/kg and/or 25 μg/kg of Neos were prepared and employed for this study. The results of spike test using sample A (2 mL) obtained by modified QuEChERS method with acetone extraction (10 mL) and d-SPE using a strong cation exchanger (silica gel modified with benzenesulphonic acid phase, SCX) 500 mg were as follows: 97.8%–103.1% for 5 μg/kg and 97.2%–102.7% for 25 μg/kg (described as percentage by the quantification results of IDMS relative to the spiked amount of pesticides). These results were comparable to those by SPE cartridge method using SCX functionalised hydrophilic styrene divinylbenzene (PCX). The repeatabilities of the analyses, represented as relative standard deviations, were also comparable for spike level 5 μg/kg and 25 μg/kg of Neos: 0.1%–7.2% for modified QuEChERS with IDMS and 0.2%–5.6% for PCX cartridge method. The results of spike test using sample B for a spike level 5 μg/kg were 96.0%–100.6%. These results indicate that modified QuEChERS method with IDMS can be used for the development of certified reference material and has the potential to use for the quantification of Neos in real human urine.     

The preparation of a certified reference material of polar pesticides in freeze-dried water (CRM 606)

The preparation of a certified reference material of polar pesticides in freeze-dried water is described. The pesticides selected were atrazine, simazine, carbaryl, propanil, linuron, fenamiphos and permethrin which were added to 6000 litres of tap water at 50–80 μg · L^–1 (200–320 μg · L^–1 for permethrin) level in presence of NaCl (2.5 g · L^–1) prior lyophilization. After the freeze-drying process the residue was rehomogenized, filled into amber glass bottles and stored at –20 °C, +4 °C and +20 °C. All pesticides were determined by HPLC/diode array detector, except permethrin which was determined by GC/ECD. The results obtained for atrazine, simazine, carbaryl, propanil, linuron and fenamiphos showed no within- or between-bottle inhomogeneity, however the material was non-homogeneous for permethrin and therefore this was withdrawn from further studies. With respect to the stability for over one year, all pesticides were stable at –20 °C. At +4 °C all pesticides were stable for at least 9 months and at +20 °C the stability was demonstrated only during the first month of storage. The content (mass fractions) of atrazine, simazine, carbaryl, propanil and linuron in freeze-dried water (CRM 606) was certified by an interlaboratory testing and a certification campaign. Received: 7 September 1998 / Revised: 13 November 1998 / Accepted: 21 November 1998     

The preparation of a certified reference material of polar pesticides in freeze-dried water (CRM 606)

The preparation of a certified reference material of polar pesticides in freeze-dried water is described. The pesticides selected were atrazine, simazine, carbaryl, propanil, linuron, fenamiphos and permethrin which were added to 6000 litres of tap water at 50–80 μg · L^–1 (200–320 μg · L^–1 for permethrin) level in presence of NaCl (2.5 g · L^–1) prior lyophilization. After the freeze-drying process the residue was rehomogenized, filled into amber glass bottles and stored at –20?°C, +4?°C and +20?°C. All pesticides were determined by HPLC/diode array detector, except permethrin which was determined by GC/ECD. The results obtained for atrazine, simazine, carbaryl, propanil, linuron and fenamiphos showed no within- or between-bottle inhomogeneity, however the material was non-homogeneous for permethrin and therefore this was withdrawn from further studies. With respect to the stability for over one year, all pesticides were stable at –20?°C. At +4?°C all pesticides were stable for at least 9 months and at +20?°C the stability was demonstrated only during the first month of storage. The content (mass fractions) of atrazine, simazine, carbaryl, propanil and linuron in freeze-dried water (CRM 606) was certified by an interlaboratory testing and a certification campaign.