Multiresidue determination of 29 pesticide residues in pepper through a modified QuEChERS method and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

This study describes the development and use of a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method coupled with gas chromatography with mass spectrometry to determine 29 pesticide residues in green, red and dehydrated red peppers. Pesticides were extracted with acetonitrile (1% acetic acid), partitioned with sodium chloride and purified with primary secondary amino and octadecyl silane in acetone. The QuEChERS extraction conditions were optimized, and the matrix effects that might influence recoveries were evaluated and minimized using matrix‐matched calibration curves. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curves for 29 pesticides showed good linearity in the concentration range of 0.1–10 μg/mL with determination coefficient R² > 0.998. The limits of quantification of the 29 pesticides were 0.006–0.06 mg/kg for green pepper, 0.005–0.039 mg/kg for red pepper and 0.014–0.25 mg/kg for dehydrated red pepper. These values are below the suggested regulatory maximum residue limits. The mean recoveries ranged between 70.1 and 110%, and the relative standard deviations were <13%. The developed method was successfully applied to commercial samples. Some samples were found to contain the 29 pesticides with levels below the legal limits. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metabolomics of lung cancer: Analytical platforms and their applications

Lung cancer is the leading type of cancer worldwide in terms of the number of new cases and is responsible for the largest number of deaths due to poor prognosis and difficult early detection. Due to its ability to detect numerous small molecular metabolites simultaneously, metabolomics has been widely used for the assessment of global metabolic changes in a living organism to discover candidate biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, investigate the development of cancer, and provide insights into the underlying pathophysiology. This review will mainly describe recent developments in lung cancer metabolomics in terms of early‐stage detection, biomarker discovery and mechanism exploration by using nuclear magnetic resonance, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry in the last 10 years. The sample collection and metabolite extraction methods are also summarized.     

Residue analysis of kresoxim‐methyl and boscalid in fruits,vegetables and soil using liquid–liquid extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A GC‐MS procedure for simultaneously determining and validating kresoxim‐methyl and boscalid has been developed in fruit, vegetable and soil matrices. The method was based on one‐step liquid–liquid extraction with acetone and dichloromethane solvents. Estimated limits of detection (LODs) for kresoxim‐methyl and boscalid were 0.006 and 0.015 mg/kg, and limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.02 and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively. The intra‐ and inter‐ precision were achieved with RSD better than 13.8 and 14.5%, and recoveries were in the range of 77.1–98.7% for kresoxim‐methyl and 72.8–105.1% for boscalid. The expanded uncertainties calculated at 0.1 mg/kg were below 18%. Concentration levels for residues of the two fungicides in melon samples from field trials collected 7 days after the last application were clearly below the established MRL values. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multidimensional Gas Chromatography Coupled On-Line with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (MDGC-IRMS): Progress in the Analytical Authentication of Genuine Flavor Components

Multidimensional gas chromatography coupled on-line with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (MDGC-IRMS) is presented as a powerful method for origin-specific analysis. Scope and limitations of this sophisticated coupling technique are discussed with regard to accuracy and precision.     

MASIC: a software program for fast quantitation and flexible visualization of chromatographic profiles from detected LC-MS(/MS) features

Quantitative analysis of liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data is essential to many proteomics studies. We have developed MASIC(2) to accurately measure peptide abundances and LC elution times in LC-MS/MS analyses. This software program uses an efficient processing algorithm to quickly generate mass specific selected ion chromatograms from a dataset and provides an interactive browser that allows users to examine individual chromatograms with a variety of options.     

Gas Chromatographic–Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Hydrocarbons and Other Neutral Organic Compounds in Volcanic Gases Using SPME for Sample Preparation

Knowledge of the chemical composition of volcanic exhalation is important in providing information on volcanic feeding systems and on the characteristics of the gaseous compounds emitted into the atmosphere. This paper reports a novel analytical method that makes use of capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, preceded by solid-phase micro extraction for sample enrichment. Such an approach enables considerable expansion of the number of neutral organic compounds that can be positively identified in volcanic exhalation. Data obtained from analysis of real samples are also reported.     

Discovery of false identification using similarity difference in GC–MS‐based metabolomics

Compound identification is a critical process in metabolomics. The widely used approach for compound identification in gas chromatography–mass spectrometry‐based metabolomics is spectrum matching, in which the mass spectral similarity between an experimental mass spectrum and each mass spectrum in a reference library is calculated. While various similarity measures have been developed to improve the overall accuracy of compound identification, little attention has been paid to reducing the false discovery rate. We, therefore, develop an approach for controlling the false identification rate using the distribution of the difference between the first and second highest spectral similarity scores. We further propose a model‐based approach to achieving a desired true positive rate. The developed method is applied to the National Institute of Standards and Technology mass spectral library, and its performance is compared with that of the conventional approach that uses only the maximum spectral similarity score. The results show that the developed method achieves a significantly higher F1 score and positive predictive value than did the conventional approach. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of fluvalinate residues in honey by gas chromatography–atomic emission detection and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Two hyphenated techniques, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–atomic emission detection, have been used to identify the degradation products of the acaricide fluvalinate in a methanol solution of the commercially available formulation Mavrick, as well as in honey from beehives treated with this product. The major degradation products were 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline (I), methyl 2-[2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline]-3-methylbutanoate (II), N-(2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)valine (III), and 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde (IV). Fluvalinate in honey is gradually degraded, 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde being the most abundant residue.     

Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry for the Determination of 2-Nonenal and Its Application to Body Odor Analysis

The odors and emanations released from the human body can provide important information about the health status of individuals and the presence or absence of diseases. Since these components often emanate from the body surface in very small quantities, a simple sampling and sensitive analytical method is required. In this study, we developed a non-invasive analytical method for the measurement of the body odor component 2-nonenal by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry by selective ion monitoring. Using a StableFlex PDMS/DVB fiber, 2-nonenal was efficiently extracted and enriched by fiber exposition at 50 °C for 45 min and was separated within 10 min using a DB−1 capillary column. Body odor sample was easily collected by gauze wiping. The limit of detection of 2-nonenal collected in gauze was 22 pg (S/N = 3), and the linearity was obtained in the range of 1–50 ng with a correlation coefficient of 0.991. The method successfully analyzed 2-nonenal in skin emissions and secretions and was applied to the analysis of body odor changes in various lifestyles, including the use of cosmetics, food intake, cigarette smoking, and stress load.     

固相萃取结合气相色谱-串联质谱测定卷烟中3种禁用香料

利用固相萃取结合气相色谱-串联质谱(SPE/GC-MS/MS)检测技术,建立了烟草制品中3种禁用香料(侧柏酮、樟脑及黄樟素)的高灵敏度分析方法。对前处理条件及质谱条件进行优化,在最佳实验条件下,3种香料在10.0~500.0μg/L质量浓度范围内的线性关系良好(r~2≥0.998 6),方法检出限(LOD,S/N=3)及定量下限(LOQ,S/N=10)分别为2.3~5.8μg/kg及7.7~19.3μg/kg。在LOQ,1.5LOQ及2LOQ加标水平下,3种禁用香料的平均回收率为74.9%~90.9%,相对标准偏差(RSD)均不大于2.6%。该方法准确可靠,灵敏度高,可满足国内对于这3种禁用香料的检测要求。     

Analysis of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography – Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids using high performance liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry is described. The standard fatty acid methyl esters from 16 to 22 carbons were analyzed by LC‐MS with APCI. The effect of orifice voltage and total carbon atoms versus number of double bonds in each homologue on the mass spectra is discussed. The correction coefficients for homologues from saturated fatty acids to hexaenoic acid are also mentioned.     

Determination of d‐limonene in mice plasma and tissues by a new GC–MS/MS method: Comparison of the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution by oral and inhalation administration in mice

The aim of the present study was to develop a method based on gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) to determine and quantify the d ‐limonene in mouse plasma and tissue samples. This new method was validated for the quantification of d ‐limonene with the linearity ranges 1.0–1000.0 ng/mL (r² > 0.9952) for plasma samples and 5.0–5000.0 ng/g (r² > 0.9940) for tissue samples. The intra‐ and inter‐day assay of precisions in plasma and tissues were <13.4% and the accuracies were within 91.1–105.8%. In the oral/inhalation administration pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution studies, the main pharmacokinetic parameters were the peak concentration = (97.150 ± 34.450)/(4336.415 ± 1142.418) ng/mL, the area under the curve = (162.828± 27.447)/(2085.721 ± 547.787) h ng/mL and the half‐life = (3.196 ± 0.825)/(0.989 ± 0.095) h. The tissue distribution of d ‐limonene in mice after oral/inhalation administration demonstrated a decreasing tendency in different tissues (liver > kidney > heart > lung > spleen).     

Evidence for interphasial amide formation between surface-bound poly(3-aminopropyltrisiloxane) and polyamide-6 in glass bead reinforced polyamide-6 model composites

Glass beads pretreated with equal amounts of either natural abundance-or selectively ¹³C-enriched (3-¹³C)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane were used as filler for the preparation of polyamide-6 model composites. After isolation of the glass beads from the composite by dissolving the polymer matrix in trifluoroethanol, the glass beads were investigated by pyrolysis capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The identification of the aldimine derivatives 1 and 2 , respectively, containing the ¹³C-label at C3 next to the imine nitrogen atom provides compelling evidence for amide formation between carboxylic end-groups of the polyamide-6 and amine groups of the surface-bound poly(3-aminopropyltrisiloxane) in the interphase region during composite preparation.     

Build‐up of carboxylic acids in polyethylene and their relation to off‐flavor and carbonyl index

Oxidation of polyethylene (PE) gives a mixture of degradation products. Carboxylic acids are among the major ones. They are believed to cause off‐flavor in food and beverage packaging. Our previous research has shown that identification and use of indicator products gives earlier detection of oxidation in plastic materials. In the present study, the relation between off‐flavor in water extracts of PE and each of the carboxylic acids in the homologous series from propanoic to nonanoic acid were investigated. Also, a comparison between carbonyl index in solid PE and each of the carboxylic acids in the homologous series from propanoic to decanoic acid were examined. The amount of the carboxylic acids was assessed by head‐space solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC‐MS). It was found that the amount of butanoic and hexanoic acid correlated well with the rated off‐flavor intensities in the water extracts. This confirmed earlier results on a linkage between these two carboxylic acids and highly rated off‐flavor intensities. Moreover, a relation between the build‐up of propanoic acid in the solid PE and carbonyl index was found. Hence, propanoic acid could be used as an indicator product for earlier oxidation detection in these PE materials. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1848–1859, 2007     

Determination of inorganic arsenic and organic arsenic compounds in marine organisms by hydride generation/cold trap/gas chromatography— mass spectrometry

The behavior of arsenite, methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, trimethylarsine oxide, dimethyl-R-arsine oxides, and trimethyl-R-arsonium compounds (R = carboxymethyl, 2-carboxyethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl) toward sodium borohydride and hot aqueous sodium hydroxide was investigated. The arsines obtained by sodium borohydride reduction of the undigested and digested solutions were collected in a liquid-nitrogen cooled trap, separated with a gas chromatograph, and detected with a mass spectrometer in the selected-ion-monitoring mode. The investigated arsenic compounds were stable in hot 2 mol dm^?3 sodium hydroxide except arsenobetaine [trimethyl(carboxymethyl)arsonium zwitterion] that was converted to trimethylarsine oxide, and dimethyl(ribosyl)arsine oxides that were decomposed to dimethylarsinic acid. Hydride generation before and after digestion of extracts from marine organisms allowed inorganic arsenic, methylated arsenic, arsenobetaine, and ribosyl arsenic compounds to be identified and quantified. This method was applied to extracts from shellfish, fish, crustaceans, and seaweeds.     

Compounds having thiourea moiety as derivatization reagents in liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI‐MS/MS): synthesis of derivatization reagents for carboxylic acids

The derivatization reagents for carboxylic acids, N‐(Pyridin‐3‐yl)hydrazinecarbothioamide, N‐[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]hydrazinecarbothioamide, 1‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐3‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)thiourea, 1‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐3‐[4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl]thiourea and 4‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐N‐phenylpiperazine‐1‐carbothioamide were synthesized. These reagents reacted with carboxylic acids at 60°C for 45 min in the presence of the condensation reagents. The generated derivatives were favorably separated on the reversed‐phase column and sensitively detected by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. These reagents enhanced the electrospray ionization response of the analyte and generated a particular product ion efficiently by collision‐induced dissociation, and thus they were suitable for MS/MS detection. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

GC-MS/MS法对焙烤食品及其塑料包装材料中25种磷酸三酯类与邻苯二甲酸酯类化合物的同时测定

建立了气相色谱-质谱/质谱(GC-MS/MS)测定焙烤食品及其塑料包装材料中25种磷酸三酯类及邻苯二甲酸酯类化合物的高通量检测方法。焙烤食品以乙腈-丙酮(8∶2,体积比)超声提取,采用50 mg C18和50 mg PSA混合填料进行Qu ECh ERS净化;塑料包装材料经二氯甲烷-甲醇超声提取后直接检测。样液经DB-5 ms色谱柱分离,选择反应监测(SRM)模式测定。25种化合物在各自线性范围内的相关系数不小于0.997 5,方法检出限为10~500μg/kg,平均回收率为80.2%~119.6%,相对标准偏差(n=6)为1.5%~9.4%。该方法操作简单,净化效果好,可有效消除基质效应,适用于不同焙烤食品及其塑料包装材料中磷酸三酯类及邻苯二甲酸酯类化合物的同时测定。     

HRGC/FID and HRGC/MSD Analysis of the Secondary Metabolites Obtained by Different Extraction Methods from Lepechinia schiedeana,and in Vitro Evaluation of Its Antioxidant Activity

Steam distillation (SD), simultaneous distillation-solvent extraction (SDE), microwave-assisted solvent extraction (MWE), and supercritical (CO₂) extraction (SFE) were used to isolate secondary metabolites from Lepechinia schiedeana. The various extracts were analyzed by capillary gas-chromatography, on poly (dimethylsiloxane) (DB-1) and poly(ethyleneglycol) (INNOWAX), 60 m columns, using FID or MSD (EI, 70 eV). Kováts indexes, mass spectra, or standard compounds were employed for compound identification. 43, 61, 67, and 79 compounds at concentrations above 0.01% were detected in the SD, SDE, MWE, and SFE extracts, respectively. Ledol, C₁₅H₂₆O, was the major constituent (20.04–36.87%) in all extracts. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (24.36–43.14%), C₁₀H₁₆, monoterpenes (27.70–39.87%), and C₁₅H₂₄, sesquiterpenes (10.04–22.22%) were the main groups of compounds present in SD, SDE, MWE, and SFE extracts. Heavy hydrocarbons (C_n > 15), diterpenoids, and phytosterols were found only in MWE and SFE extracts. The antioxidant activity of Lepechinia schiedeana was measured by the HRGC quantification of the volatile carbonyl compounds, final products of lipoxidation, released in a model lipid system (sunflower oil) by the effect of the Fenton reagent. The concentration of volatile carbonyl compounds decreased by 65% when lipid oxidation was induced in the presence of macerated Lepechinia plant. The protection of polyunsaturated acids in sunflower oil was also studied by measuring their concentrations after heating of the oil (180°C, 2 h) with and without macerated Lepechinia plant.     

Comparative analysis of essential oils from eight herbal medicines with pungent flavor and cool nature by GC–MS and chemometric resolution methods

Systematic comparative research was conducted on essential oils from eight traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) of pungent flavor and cool nature because the essential oils are the main active ingredients of herbs of this kind. The work was based on their component analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), on their retention indices, as well as on chemometric resolution methods. A total of 144 compounds were tentatively identified, accounting for 69.0% to 91.8% of the total essential oils. It is worth noting that there are 67 compounds in at least three of these eight essential oils. Moreover, many biologically active compounds, such as hexanal, α‐pinene, camphene, β‐pinene, p‐cymene, limonene, eucalyptol, (Z)‐ocimene, γ‐terpinene, camphor, p‐menthone, 4‐terpineol, α‐terpineol, carvone, eugenol, caryophyllene, β‐farnesene, α‐curcumene, β‐selinene, δ‐cadinene, caryophyllene oxide, cedrol, n‐hexadecanoic acid, benzaldehyde, benzeneacetaldehyde, phthalic acid diisobutyl ester, linoleic acid, tetradecanoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)‐9,12,15‐octadecatrienoic acid, eucalyptol, pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, linoleic acid methyl ester, exist in at least four of the eight essential oils. These results might help us to understand why the eight herbs are all of pungent flavor and cool nature according to the theory of TCM, and may provide a useful chemical basis for future research on herbs of this kind.