Selective determination of 2,4-xylenol by gas chromatography/supersonic jet/resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography/supersonic jet/resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/SSJ/REMPI/TOF-MS) was employed for isomer-selective determination of 2,4-xylenol in river and seawater samples. The sample containing 2,4-xylenol was measured using argon, rather than helium, as the GC carrier gas to cool the analyte molecule sufficiently. The instrumental detection limit (IDL) achieved at a flow rate of 1 mLmin(-1) was 14 pg. Although this value was comparable to the value (ca. 10 pg) obtained by gas chromatography/electron impact/quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC/EI/QMS). When the flow rate was increased to 8 mLmin(-1), interference from the 2,5-xylenol isomer was completely suppressed. The IDL was degraded to 83 or 160 pg at a flow rate of 5 or 8 mLmin(-1), respectively. The recovery of 2,4-xylenol from the river and the seawater samples was 85 and 93%, respectively. The time for analysis was only 10 min per one sample in GC/SSJ/REMPI/TOF-MS. These results suggest that GC/SSJ/REMPI/TOF-MS is useful for the selective measurement of 2,4-xylenol, which has been designated a Class I chemical substance in the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR).     

Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization mass spectrometry using a two-color laser beam generated by stimulated Raman scattering.

Two-color (1+1') resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (REMPI/TOF-MS) combined with supersonic jet (SSJ) spectrometry has been demonstrated. The methodology uses a two-color laser beam consisting of a Stokes beam generated by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and a fundamental beam for the excitation and subsequent ionization of p-dichlorobenzene. The MPI signal was found to be substantially increased when a two-color laser beam was employed. This approach greatly simplifies the analytical system and reduces the cost of the instrumentation required for two-color ionization. The potential advantage of applying this method for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) emitted from an incinerator is discussed.     

Near-ultraviolet femtosecond laser ionization of dioxins in gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography/multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/MPI/TOF-MS) was applied to the trace analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). To determine the optimum wavelength for analysis of PCDD/Fs, the wavelength of the femtosecond laser utilized for multiphoton ionization was converted to near-ultraviolet status using stimulated Raman scattering. A femtosecond laser emitting at 300 nm completely eliminated the background signal arising from the bleeding compounds generated from a stationary phase of the capillary column in GC.     

Optimization of separation and detection conditions for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography--time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans

The 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are among the most toxic compounds known, and several sources of exposure to these chemicals should be monitored to protect human and environmental health. The current predominant method of analysis is too expensive and cumbersome, and comprehensive two-dimensional GC coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC--TOF-MS) has the potential to lower the costs and speed analysis of PCDD/Fs. In this study, GC x GC--TOF parameters were evaluated and optimized to yield complete separation of the 17 most important PCDD/F congeners from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) interferences, and to attain the lowest detection limits. The optimization study entailed evaluation of oven temperature programs, column flow rates, ion source temperatures, electron ionization energy, data acquisition rate, and various GC x GC parameters, including modulation period, modulator temperature offset and hot pulse duration. After optimization, all 17 PCDD/Fs were separated in <60 min, and in particular, the critical pair of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and pentachlorobiphenyl congener CB126 did not co-elute chromatographically. Accurate identification and determination of all analytes could be made using their deconvoluted full mass spectra. In GC x GC, the modulation period and start time were the most important factors that affected sensitivity and selectivity for the analysis of the PCDD/Fs. The modulation period should be < or = 4s to preserve separations achieved in one-dimensional GC, and the modulation start time was important to achieve one large slice and two smaller symmetrical slices of TCDD to maximize its detection sensitivity. After optimization, the method could identify 0.25 pg of TCDD with standard injection from its full mass spectrum.     

高分辨气相色谱/质谱法分析新闻纸和复印纸中的二恶英

随机选择空白的和经过印刷的新闻纸和复印纸,粉碎后用溶剂提取并经多步色谱柱纯化,采用同位素稀释、高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱(HRGC/HRMS)联用技术分析了其中的二含量。结果表明:新闻纸中二的总量高于复印纸,但是毒性当量却低于复印纸;经过印刷的新闻纸和复印纸中二的含量均高于空白的新闻纸和复印纸;新闻纸和复印纸中相同二异构体的含量 是不同的。空白的和经过印刷的新闻纸中二毒性当量分别为0.48 ng/kg和0.61 ng/kg,而空白的和经过印刷的复印纸中二恶英毒性当量分别为0.74 ng/kg和0.79     

高分辨气相色谱/质谱法分析新闻纸和复印纸中的二噁

随机选择空白的和经过印刷的新闻纸和复印纸 ,粉碎后用溶剂提取并经多步色谱柱纯化 ,采用同位素稀释、高分辨气相色谱 /高分辨质谱 (HRGC/HRMS)联用技术分析了其中的二含量。结果表明 :新闻纸中二的总量高于复印纸 ,但是毒性当量却低于复印纸 ;经过印刷的新闻纸和复印纸中二的含量均高于空白的新闻纸和复印纸 ;新闻纸和复印纸中相同二异构体的含量是不同的。空白的和经过印刷的新闻纸中二毒性当量分别为 0 4 8ng/kg和 0 6 1ng/kg,而空白的和经过印刷的复印纸中二毒性当量分别为 0 74ng/kg和 0 79ng/kg。所有样品中添加的13 C标记的 2 ,3,7,8位取代的二回收率均在 4 9 82 %至 131 34%之间。     

Triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry: A real alternative to high resolution magnetic sector instrument for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,furans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls

This paper reports on the optimisation, characterisation, validation and applicability of gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in its tandem operation mode (GC-QqQ(MS/MS) for the quantification of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs, dioxins) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in environmental and food matrices. MS/MS parameters were selected to achieve the high sensitivity and selectivity required for the analysis of this type of compounds and samples. Good repeatability for areas (RSD = 1–10%, for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs) and for ion transition ratios (RSD = 0.3–10%, for PCDD/Fs, and 0.2–15%, for DL-PCBs) and low instrumental limits of detection, 0.07–0.75 pg μL⁻¹ (for dioxins) and 0.05–0.63 pg μL⁻¹ (for DL-PCBs), were obtained. A comparative study of the congener specific determination using both GC-QqQ(MS/MS) and gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) was also performed by analysing several fortified samples and certified reference materials (CRMs) with low (feed and foodstuffs), median (sewage sludge) and high (fly ash) toxic equivalency (TEQ) concentration levels, i.e. 0.60, 1.83, 72.9 and 3609 pg WHO-TEQ(PCDD/Fs) g⁻¹. The agreement between the results obtained for the total TEQs (dioxins) on GC-QqQ(MS/MS) and GC-HRMS in all the investigated samples were within the range of ±4%, and that of DL-PCBs at concentration levels of 0.84 pg WHO-TEQs (DL-PCBs) g⁻¹, in the case of feedstuffs, was 0.11%. Both instrumental methods have similar and comparable linearity, precision and accuracy. The GC-QqQ(MS/MS) sensitivity, lower than that of GC-HRMS, is good enough (iLODs in the down to low pg levels) to detect the normal concentrations of these compounds in food and environmental samples. These results make GC-QqQ(MS/MS) suitable for the quantitative analysis of dioxins and DL-PCBs and a real alternative tool to the reference sector HRMS instruments.     

Optimization of a GC‐MS/MS Method for the Analysis of PCDDs and PCDFs in Human and Fish Tissue

This paper outlines the possibilities of selectivity and sensitivity enhancement in measuring PCDD/F congeners using an ion trap GC‐MS/MS. The pressure of the collision gas and the collision energy were optimized. The modified GC‐MS/MS method was applied to the determination of PCDDs and PCDFs in human and fish tissues. Limits of quantification were about 1 pg/g of fat for all seventeen 2378 PCDD/Fs tested (starting amount of fat, 2 g).     

Comparison of gas chromatography-ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry systems for the determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls

Two gas chromatography-mass spectrometry systems equipped with an ion-trap mass analyzer working in tandem mode (GC-MS-MS) were evaluated for the determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in food samples. The performance of the two ion-trap instruments, which dispose of an external ion source (ThermoFinnigan GCQ/Polaris) and internal ionization (Varian Saturn 2,200), have been compared in terms of linearity, repeatability, limit of detection and long-term precision. Both instruments provided similar run-to-run and day-to-day precisions, ranging from 2% to 8% and between 2% and 13%, and instrumental limits of detection between 0.09 and 0.36 pg injected for PCDD/Fs and from 0.03 to 0.09 pg injected for dioxin-like PCBs. Although both instruments seem to be suitable for food analysis, only the use of external ionization allowed to achieve reliable results for PCDD/F determination at concentrations close to the maximum residue levels established by the EU for foods. Internal ionization provides high limits of detection (from 10- to 30-fold higher) and worse precision (RSD, 14-43%). In contrast, for dioxin-like PCBs both instruments allowed to obtain excellent results with precisions lower than 15%.     

Determination of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in food and feed using gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

A method was developed on a gas chromatograph coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer(GC-MS/MS) for trace level determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls(DL-PCBs) in food and feed. The results demonstrated good sensitivity and repeatability for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs at an extremely low level(10 pg mL~(-1) for 2,3,7,8-TCDD/F), as well as wide linear response of over 3 or 4 orders of magnitude in concentration ranges; 0.5–200 ng mL~(-1) for PeCDD/F and 0.2–2000 ng mL~(-1) for DL-PCBs. The method detection limits for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were in the range from 0.018–0.17 pg g~(-1) to 0.13–0.36 pg g~(-1), respectively. The performance of the GC-MS/MS for food and feed sample analysis showed high precision and accuracy compared to the high resolution gas chromatograph/high resolution mass spectrometer. The results indicated the feasibility of GC-MS/MS as a confirmatory method for the measurement of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in food and feed as required by European Union legislation.     

PVC化学链燃烧过程中二噁英生成研究

制备了负载硅溶胶的CaSO₄载氧体,并对其与CH₄、CO和H₂的反应特性进行了研究表征。采用管式炉实验系统,对PVC在基于CaSO₄载氧体的化学链燃烧和空气燃烧两种方式下,二噁英的生成特性进行了实验研究。结果表明,负载了硅溶胶的CaSO₄载氧体与CH₄、CO和H₂反应均接近完全转化,其中,与CH₄和H₂的反应时间显著短于CO。采用化学链燃烧方式可有效抑制PVC燃烧过程二噁英的生成,其生成量和毒性当量分别由空气燃烧中的34 172.5 pg/g及732.8 pg(I-TEQ)/g降到化学链燃烧的2 270.9 pg/g及290.2 pg(I-TEQ)/g,这主要是因为化学链燃烧过程中燃料与O₂不直接接触,显著减少了大分子碳结构的氧化断裂以及HCl向Cl₂的转化,从而抑制了二噁英的低温从头合成反应和前驱物生成反应。     

Simplified enrichment and identification of environmental peptide toxins using antibody-capture surfaces with subsequent mass spectrometry detection

The development of a simplified assay for detection of congeners of the microcystin (MC) hepatotoxin is described that combines the extreme sensitivity of surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS (SELDI TOF-MS) with the superior selectivity of immunoaffinity interactions. Using methods similar to those of conventional immunoassays, MC standards were captured and enriched on immunoreactive ProteinChips coated with an MC-antibody and analyzed by TOF-MS. Unlike with conventional immunoassays, individual congeners were resolved from mixed pools. Assay conditions were optimized for the quantification of MC from untreated raw pond water at concentrations as low as 0.025 microg L(-1), well below the public health relevant guideline of 1 microg L(-1).     

Unveiling the secondary pollution in the catalytic elimination of chlorinated organics: The formation of dioxins

Since the discovery of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs) in the process of municipal solid waste incineration(MSWI),a large number of researches have been conducted to reveal their formation mechanisms and emission characteristics.As one of national priority control pollutants,chlorinated organics are inclined to transfer into PCDD/Fs in the heterogeneously catalyzed process,which has been considered to be one of great challenges in environmental catalysis.However,so far direct evidences to support such a conversion process are insufficient,and the reaction mechanisms are lack of exploration.This study investigated the catalytic elimination of chlorobenzene(CBz) over a range of industrially applied active species including Pt,Ru,V,Ce and Mn oxides,and explored their reaction byproducts,chlorine adsorption/desorption behaviors and PCDD/F formations.We found that all of these species could generate the PCDD/Fs,amongst which,Mn species were the most active for PCDD/F formation.Approximately 140 ng I-TEQg-1 PCDD/Fs were detected on the Mn-CNT surface after ageing at250℃ for 30 h.Even using the dichloromethane(DCM) as a precursor,significant PCDD/Fs were still detected.The Ru and V species were shown to generate much less polychlorinated byproducts and PCDD/Fs,owning to their sufficiently high abilities in Cl desorption,which were through the semi-Deacon and Br(?)nsted H reactions,respectively.     

Congener-specific determination of dioxins and related compounds by gas chromatography coupled to LRMS,HRMS, MS/MS and TOFMS

Their characteristics as persistent organic pollutant and their toxicity (2,3,7,8-TCDD is named as a known human carcinogen) make the dioxins and related compounds a focus of interest in environmental analytical chemistry. In view of the widespread distribution of dioxins in the environment, these compounds must be monitored in several matrices, such as air, effluents, soil, sludge and biological samples. The analytical methodologies are especially difficult owing to the complexity of the mixtures of congeners (210 PCDD/Fs and 209 PCBs) and to the low detection limits required (ppb to ppq). Moreover, time-consuming sample preparation steps are needed owing to the presence of a large number of interfering compounds. The different toxicity of each congener requires the development of congener specific methods. This review of trace dioxin determination by mass spectrometry (MS) includes sample preparation and chromatographic separation. In this Special Feature, the use of different MS techniques such as low-resolution MS (LRMS) and high-resolution MS (HRMS) is discussed in terms of selectivity and sensitivity. The performances of other MS techniques, such as tandem MS (MS/MS) and time-of-flight MS (ToFMS), are compared. Quantification techniques, especially the isotopic dilution method, are also discussed. Conclusions and future perspectives are outlined.     

氯酚为前生体生成二噁英类的研究进展

评述了氯酚作为前生体生成二噁英类的问题，总结了热过程、光转化、酶反应三种途径中氯酚生成二噁英类的条件及机制。热过程中氯酚缩合成二Wu英的主要影响因素为：温度、热解时间、含氧量和催化剂；而光转化过程中光强、溶剂种类、光敏物质的存在对氯酚生成Wu英有影响，热过程和光转化的反应机制均是通过自由基来完成的。     

HRGC-LRMS测定垃圾焚烧炉布袋飞灰中的二噁英类物质

利用高分辨气相色谱-低分辨质谱(HRGC-LRMS)测定了某垃圾焚烧厂布袋飞灰中的二(口恶)英类物质,结果表明对于测定二(口恶)英类浓度相对较高的垃圾飞灰而言,采用HRGC-LRMS是一种可行的方法,回收率在74％～114％之间。该飞灰样品中以二(口恶)英为主,呋喃的含量相对较低,二(口恶)英／呋喃值为4.6,二(口恶)英类物质总量为211.7ng／g,折算到毒性当量为0.69ngI-TEQ／g。     

Hyphenation of gas chromatography and resonance-enhanced laser mass spectrometry (REMPI-TOFMS): A multidimensional analytical technique

Analysis of environmental samples usually requires time consuming sample preparation and clean-up procedures prior to instrumental detection. Faster analysis requires an enhanced instrumental selectivity in order to reduce the necessary clean-up effort. In this context we present a novel concept for coupling gas chromartography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with high resolution UV spectoscopy to increase selectivity. We use UV-laser induced, resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization (REMPI)as a compound specifie ion source for time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). The REMPI ionization involves the UV absorption spectroscopy into the ionization process as an aditional analytical dimension. The heart of the GC-REMPI-TOFMS coupling is a specially designed valve, which repetitively (20 Hz) expands the chromatographic eluent as short supersonic jet gas pulses (≈ 150 μs duration) into the vacuum of the mass specrtrometer. The sample molecules are cooled down to temperatures of 10-40 K within the jet expansion. Under these conditions, UV absorption spectriscopy (i.e. REMPi spectroscopy) becomes highly compound selective, even able to distinguish isomeric compounds. The ions formed by REMPI ionization are mass analyzed in the TOFMS. Thus the GC-REMPI-TOFMS coupling presented here is actually a three-dimensional analytical instrument, providing gas chromatographic (retention time) as well as mass spectrometric (molecular mass) and UV -spectroscopic (excitation laser wavelength) selectivity. In combination with gas phase sampling and concentration techniques for semi-volatile organic air pollutants based, e.g., on silicone rubber traps the GC-LAMS technique can be a powerful tool for fast environmental target analysis, e.g. for industrial emission control purposes.     

Evaluation of automated direct sample introduction with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the screening analysis of dioxins in fish oil

An automated direct sample introduction technique coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry (DSI-GC x GC/TOF-MS) was applied for the development of a relatively fast and easy analytical screening method for 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and 4 non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish oil. Comparison of instrumental performance between DSI-GC x GC/TOF-MS and the traditional gas chromatographic high resolution mass spectrometric (GC-HRMS) method showed good agreement of results for standard solutions analyzed in blind fashion. Relatively high tolerance of the DSI technique for lipids in the final extracts enabled a streamlined sample preparation procedure that only required gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup with graphitized carbon black. The sample size for the method was 2g of cod liver oil, which achieved limits of quantitation (LOQs) of 0.019-7.8 pg/g toxic equivalent quotients for the individual PCDD/Fs. Lower detection limits can be achieved by using larger sample size and scaling up the sample preparation procedure, but this adds to the labor, time, solvent consumption, and expense of the approach. However, the streamlined method yielded 0.94 pg/g and 2.3 pg/g LOQs for 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzofuran (TCDF) and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachloro biphenyl (CB126), which were sufficiently low for regulatory monitoring of 2g samples. Therefore, instead of congener specific analysis, this streamlined analytical screening method for TCDF and CB126 has the potential to monitor fish oil contaminated with dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs at or above current food safety limits. Acceptable recoveries for nearly all analytes at three different spiking levels in fish oil samples were achieved with good repeatability.     

Gas chromatography/multiphoton ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a femtosecond laser

A laser can be used for the selective excitation and subsequent ionization of a molecule with an absorption band at the laser wavelength. This technique of multiphoton ionization (MPI), when combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS), permits the efficient detection of induced ions in mass analysis. This combination of MPI/TOF-MS can be coupled with gas chromatography (GC) to achieve even more enhanced selectivity. Thus, GC/MPI/TOF-MS can be employed for trace analysis of samples containing numerous chemical species. A variety of laser sources have been used for this purpose. Since molecules that are classified as environmental pollutants frequently contain chlorine and bromine atoms, the lifetime of the excited state can be decreased by energy transfer from the singlet to triplet levels by spin–orbit interaction. A high-power femtosecond laser with a pulse width shorter than the lifetime of the analyte molecule provides femtogram or even subfemtogram detection limits, which have not yet been achieved using the most sensitive high-resolution double-focus sector-type mass spectrometers. Numerous environmental pollutants such as dioxins in soils and pesticides in foods have been successfully quantified using GC/MPI/TOF-MS, and this technique has proven itself to be a useful and practical method for trace analysis.

共振增强多光子电离耦合飞行时间质谱研究甲烷脱氢芳构化反应

 采用共振增强多光子电离耦合飞行时间质谱技术，初步探测了甲烷无氧芳构化反应。实验结果表明，该技术具有灵敏度高，质量分辨率高，响应时间快等优点，改变波长能实现对目标产物的实时，高灵敏度检测，并且可以获得所有产物的信息。