Characterization of polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorbance and mass spectrometric detection

Ten polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons (PCAHs), perchlorobenzene (I), perchlorobiphenyl (II), perchlorobenzo[f]inden-1-one (III), perchloronaphthalene (IV), perchloropenta[def]phenanthren-4-one (V), 6H-1,2,4,5,7,8,9,10,11-nonachlorobenzo[cd]pyrene-3-one (VI), perchloroacenaphthylene (VII), 6-(p-tolyl)-6H-1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11-decachlorobenzo[cd]pyrene (VIII), perchlorofluoranthene (IX) and 6-(p-tolyl)-6H-1,11-dihydroxy-2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10-octachlorobenzo[cd]pyrene (X) have been separated with reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) by using two gradient eluents (toluene/methanol and cyclohexane/methanol), and were detected by ultraviolet (UV) and mass spectrometry (MS). The separation and detection of half of these ten compounds, which are of extremely high molecular weights, is an improvement over the chromatographic analysis of PCAHs. When the procedure was applied to the analysis of PCAHs of the products from the combustion of chlorobenzene and carbon tetrachloride, I, II, IV, VIII and X could be detected.     

Analysis of procyanidins in chocolate by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometric and tandem mass spectrometric detection

Four cation-exchange materials, possessing propanesulfonic acid ligands, for use in capillary electrochromatography were prepared from different commercially available 5-microm bare-silica particles ranging from 80 to 800 A in pore size. The performance of the materials was investigated at different compositions of the mobile phase (pH, ionic strength, and acetonitrile content) using tricyclic antidepressants and related quaternary ammonium analogues as test analytes. The wide-pore materials promoted pore flow, but this had no positive influence on the performance. The small-pore (highest surface area) particles gave, as could be expected, the best selectivity.     

Determination of selected phytochemicals by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography combined with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection.

A robust, routinely manageable and sensitive RP-HPLC method combined with UV (270 nm) and ESI-MS detection was established for the determination of abundant pertinent phenolic compounds (phytochemicals) from various biological matrices. Phytochemicals were extracted by aqueous methanol (80%), extracts were analysed without further purification. Baseline separation was achieved within 30 min for 19 phytochemicals and excellent sensitivity (6-42 pmol at S/N = 3) was obtained. The identity of the phytochemicals was confirmed with standard compounds and with LC-MS. The repeatabilities for the majority of the phytochemicals ranged between 3% and 6%. The practicability of the method was shown in complex biological matrices by analysing onion and soybean extracts. This generally applicable technique may serve as a valuable tool for a rapid screening and a specific measurement of phytochemicals in food extracts and biological fluids and serve as analytical instrument for future biochemical and physiological studies.     

Resolution of triacylglycerol positional isomers by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

The ability of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to separate some positionally isomeric disaturated and monounsaturated triacylglycerols (TAGs) as intact species is demonstrated for the first time. Mobile phases of acetonitrile modified with methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, acetone, or dichloromethane were tested for the separation of POP-PPO, PLP-PPL, PEP-PPE, and PDP-PPD (P-palmitic, O-oleic, L-linoleic, E-eicosapentaenoic, D-docosahexaenoic acid residue) on a single RP-HPLC column. The resolution improved with increasing number of double bonds in the acyl residues. While POP and PPO were only partially resolved, PDP and PPD were fully separated with all tested mobile phases, except those containing methanol. Also separated were the four TAGs having the same equivalent carbon number (ECN = 42), PEP, PPE, PDP, and PPD, on a single RP-HPLC column with mobile phase acetonitrile-2-propanol (70:30, v/v) at 0.8 mL/min. In all cases the isomer with the unsaturated acyl residue in either 1- or 3-position was retained more strongly than the respective 2-isomer.     

Silver-ion reversed-phase comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometric detection in lipidic food analysis

The triacylglycerol (TAG) profiles present in real world lipidic samples are usually quite complex and, as such, monodimensional high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) techniques are inadequate when challenged with such matrices. In this respect, the complementary use of silver-ion (Ag) and non-aqueous (NA) reversed-phase (RP) HPLC can be exploited if thorough TAG separations are required. The present investigation reports the employment of a newly developed comprehensive LC (LC x LC) system, based on the different separation mechanisms of the aforementioned techniques, and applied to a rice oil sample. The approach was successful in the separation of a high number of solutes, otherwise unachievable through monodimensional LC. Furthermore, the use of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS), as detection system, provided a third analytical dimension boosting the identification power of the comprehensive chromatographic method.     

Determination of carbohydrates by capillary electrophoresis with electrospray-mass spectrometric detection.

A method for the determination of underivatized carbohydrates using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with detection by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) presented. Highly alkaline carrier electrolytes based on volatile organic bases like is diethylamine (DEA) combined with MS detection in the negativ-ion mode proved to be the optimum solution for the separation and detection of these analytes. Optimization of the carrier electrolyte composition has been performed with respect to its pH, ionic strength as well as the addition of an organic modifier. The influence of the DEA concentration in the sheath liquid on parameters like peak shapes or signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios was also investigated. Limits of detection (LOD) were in the range of 0.5-3.0 mgL(-1) and calibration was linear over an order of magnitude for almost all solutes investigated. Finally, the applicability of this method for the analysis of real samples was demonstrated with wine samples.     

Measurement of tobramycin by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection

Analysis of tobramycin faces challenges owing to its significant basicity, hydrophilicity and lack of a UV absorbing chromophore. Chromatographic methods, coupled with derivatization to introduce chromophores for tobramycin analysis, were extensively studied. A direct reversed-phase HPLC method for tobramycin analysis has not been reported. Here, we would like to report a simple LC/MS method for quantitative analysis of tobramycin in pharmaceutical formulations. Reversed-phase HPLC analysis of tobramycin was achieved using a pH stable C18 column with basic (pH 11) aqueous mobile phase (ammonium hydroxide buffer), while direct detection was carried out employing a single quadruple mass detector in negative mode via electrospray ionization. This unique separation-detection combination provided simple and specific determination of tobramycin. This method was found to be linear at a tobramycin concentration range of 0.2-0.8 mg/mL with a correlation coefficient value of 0.999. The quantitation limit and detection limit were calculated as 0.210 and 0.063 μg/mL, respectively, with 99.994% confidence. This method was successfully applied to measure tobramycin content in matrices containing tobramycin and other pharmaceutical formulation ingredients. Recoveries of 101.8, 97.8 and 106.7% were obtained for tobramycin spiked in the pharmaceutical formulation at concentrations of 1.68, 1.0 and 0.35 mg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations for six injections of spiked samples ranged from 0.2 to 3.2%, indicating good method repeatability.     

Case of enantiomer impurity identification by normal-phase chiral high-performance liquid chromatography with optical rotation and mass spectrometric detection

An impurity produced in the synthesis of compound I is separated and identified as its enantiomer II using normal-phase chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV absorbance, optical rotation (OR) and mass spectrometric (MS) detection. The results show that the impurity II and compound I have equal and opposite specific rotations, identical MS spectra and the same MS-MS fragmentation pattern, as required for enantiomers. The procedures presented demonstrate a novel combination of methods for enantiomer identification and characterization that do not require the preparation of individual enantiomer markers or even the racemic mixture, thus reducing the need for additional synthetic work.     

Separation and identification of various carotenoids by C30 reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to UV and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric detection.

In this paper the application of on-line HPLC-UV-APCI (atmospheric pressure chemical ionization) mass spectrometry (MS) coupling for the separation and determination of different carotenoids as well as cis/trans isomers of beta-carotene is reported. All HPLC separations were carried out under RP conditions on self-synthesized polymeric C30 phases. The analysis of a carotenoid mixture containing astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, echinenone and beta-carotene by HPLC-APCI-MS was achieved by scanning the mass range from m/z 200 to 700. For the characterization of a sample containing cis/trans isomers of beta-carotene as well as their oxidation products, a photodiode-array UV-visible absorbance detector was used in addition between the column and the mass spectrometer for structural elucidation of the geometrical isomers. The detection limit for beta-carotene in positive-ion APCI-MS was determined to be 1 pmol. In addition, an extract of non-polar substances in vegetable juice has been analyzed by HPLC-APCI-MS. The included carotenoids could be identified by their masses and their retention times.     

Analysis of heparins by size-exclusion and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of heparins was carried out with on-line photodiode-array detection. Average molecular weights and molecular weight distribution were calculated using computer data acquisition and handling; size-exclusion chromatography was performed using different selective microparticulate columns and narrow molecular weight distribution heparin standards for calibration; heparin peak purity was investigated using several methods for evaluation. Additional UV-absorbing compounds present in heparin preparations were characterized and quantitated by reversed-phase HPLC. These methods are useful for the analysis of the molecular weight distribution and peak purity of heparins and for the determination of additional drugs, additives or impurities.     

Separation and determination of alkylglycosides by liquid chromatography with electrospray mass spectrometric detection

The separation of alkylpolyglycosides by liquid chromatography with electrospray mass spectrometric detection, using either an alkylamide or a cyanopropyl column, and acetonitrile/water mixtures as mobile phases, was developed. Using the alkylamide column and isocratic elution, the α- and β-epimers and ring isomers (pyranosides and furanosides) of the alkylmonoglycosides were resolved. The ring isomers were also resolved in a much shorter time using the cyanopropyl column with gradient elution. Using these columns, the isomers of the alkyldiglycosides and alkyltriglycosides were also partially resolved. The equilibration time was much shorter with the cyanopropyl column, which was selected to perform quantitation studies. The response factors increased more than an order of magnitude with the length of the alkyl chain, from the methyl to the decylmonoglycoside, and decrease largely for the dodecyl and tetradecylmonoglycoside. The limits of detection were of ca. 25 μM from the hexyl up to the dodecylmonoglycoside. The procedures were applied to the characterisation and determination of alkylmonoglycosides in toiletries.     

Analysis of commercial ceramides by non-aqueous reversed-phase liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection

Summary This paper describes the development of a chromatographic system for analysis of commercial ceramides structurally similar to those found in the stratum corneum. The ceramides used in this study contain different amine based (phytosphingosine, sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine) and fatty acids of different chain lengths and with different functional groups (hydroxylated and unsaturated). Non-aqueous reversed-phase (NARP) liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD) were the techniques chosen in accordance with the nature of the ceramides. The eluent strength and the potential selectivity of different organic solvents were investigated. On a C₁₈-bonded silica, the most promising chromatographic conditions employed a gradient from ACN-THF, 95∶5, to ACN-THF-PrOH, 35∶5∶60, in 15 min with a constant concentration of TEA (10 mM) and a stoichiometric amount of formic acid.     

Determination of psilocybin in hallucinogenic mushrooms by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

The determination of psilocybin was carried out by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence (FL) detection. Psilocybin was labeled with 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)]sulfonamide (DNS-ED) at 60 °C for 4 h in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC) as the activation reagent. The resulting derivative was separated on a Mightysil RP-18 GP column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, i.d. 3 μm) with the mixture of 50 mM ammonium acetate (AcONH₄) and CH₃CN, and detected at 539 nm (excitation at 321 nm). The structure of the derivative was identified by HPLC-ESI-MS. A good linear relation of the calibration curve of psilocybin was observed under the proposed conditions for labeling, separation and detection. The quantification limit was 4.4 ng in 1 mg dried mushroom. The proposed procedure was successfully used for the determination of psilocybin in real samples. The contents of psilocybin in six magic mushrooms by the proposed HPLC-FL method were less than 20.0 ng in 1 mg dried samples.     

Determination of tetracycline antibiotics by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A highly sensitive method for the determination of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection is presented. This method was based on the use of disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) and calcium chloride as fluorescence-increasing reagents in the mobile phase. The concentrations of each reagent in the mobile phase greatly influenced the fluorescence intensity of TCs. When the concentration of EDTA and calcium chloride were 25 and 35 mM, respectively, and the pH of the mobile phase was 6.5, the maximum fluorescence intensity was obtained. The column temperature hardly influenced the fluorescence intensity. At 3.75 ng of TCs injected, the precision (relative standard deviation) ranged from 1.12 to 2.20%. In the range 0.075-37.5 ng for tetracycline and oxytetracycline and 0.225-37.5 ng for chlortetracycline, a linear response was observed. The detection limits of this method were 49-190 pg for three different TCs. The proposed method was applied to the determination of one of the TCs in pharmaceuticals by the internal standard method using other TCs as internal standards and was also applied to determination of TCs added to fish tissue.     

Separation and detection of polar cuticular components from Oriental tobacco leaf by integration of normal-phase liquid chromatography fractionation with reversed-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Integration of normal-phase LC (NPLC) fractionation with RPLC-ESI/MS was established to detect the polar fractions of cuticular components from Oriental tobacco leaf. NPLC was selected for the fractionation of polar components of cuticular leaf extract, after being concentrated with rotary evaporator, each of the enriched fractions was further analyzed by RPLC-ESI/MS. In total, 83 compounds were finally detected including 45 cembranoids, 15 labdanoids, 20 sucrose esters, and 3 glucose esters (or fructose esters). Three cembranoids and seven labdanoids possibly are new diterpenoids. Glucose esters (or fructose esters) are also reported in Nicotiana tobacco for the first time.     

Identification and determination of phase II nabumetone metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and mass spectrometric detection

Chromatographic analyses play an important role in the identification and determination of phase I and phase II drug metabolites. While the chemical standards of phase I metabolites are usually available from commercial sources or by various synthetic, degradation or isolation methods, the phase II drug metabolites have usually more complicated structures, their standards are in general inaccessible and their identification and determination require a comprehensive analytical approach involving the use of xenobiochemical methods and the employment of hyphenated analytical techniques. In this work, various high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods were employed in the evaluation of xenobiochemical experiments leading to the identification and determination of phase II nabumetone metabolites. Optimal conditions for the quantitative enzymatic deconjugation of phase II metabolites were found for the samples of minipig bile, small intestine contents and urine. Comparative HPLC analyses of the samples of above-mentioned biomatrices and of the same biomatrices after their enzymatic treatment using beta-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase afforded the qualitative and quantitative information about phase II nabumetone metabolites. Hereby, three principal phase II nabumetone metabolites (ether glucuronides) were discovered in minipig's body fluids and their structures were confirmed using liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (MS) analyses.     

Determination of pheophytinatonickel(II) by reversed-phase highperformance liquid chromatography

Summary HPLC determination of pheophytinatonicke(II) (Pheo-Ni) prepared by the replacement of magnesium(II) in chlorophyll with nicke(II) is described. The good separation of PheoNi was obtained by using chemically bonded C₁₈ as the stationary phase and acetone-methanol (50∶50, vol/vol) as the mobile phase. Conventional spectrophotometric method was also used for the determination of PheoNi. For the synthetic samples prepared by mixing (pheophytinato a) nicke(II) [(Pheo-a) Ni] and (pheophytinato b) nicke(II) [(Pheo-b) Ni], analytical values obtained by the spectrophotometric method were very high compared to those obtained by HPLC. In the proposed HPLC method, (Pheo-a) Ni and (Pheo-b). Ni could be determined in the concentration range of 0.028–30μg/ml and 0.038–30μg/ml with relative standard deviations (n=10) of 3.1% and 0.8%, respectively.     

Determination of roxythromycin in blood serum by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

A procedure has been developed for the determination of a macrolide antibiotic roxythromycin (RX) in blood serum using HPLC with mass spectrometric detection using clarithromycin (CL) as the internal standard. RX and CL have been extracted from the samples by solid-phase extraction in a cartridge filled with a polar adsorbent, cyanopropylsilyl silica gel. The absolute recoveries of RX and CL are 89.6 and 92.5%, respectively. Chromatographic separation has been performed on a Nucleodur C₁₈ Isis column with the mobile phase composed as follows: water-methanol-acetonitrile-formic aid (499: 250: 250: 1 by volume). Registration has been performed in the mode of selected ion monitoring with m/z 837.7 (RX) and m/z 748.7 (CL). The analytical range for RX is 0.097–14.81 μg/mL, the quantification limit is 0.097 μg/mL, the detection limit is 0.03 μg/mL, and the intraday and interday relative standard deviation are 2–6 and 4–8% respectively. The procedure has been applied to the pharmacokinetic studies of the Rulid pharmaceutical preparation.