Recent progress in the analysis of sugar monomers from complex matrices using chromatography in conjunction with mass spectrometry or stand-alone tandem mass spectrometry

Analysis of trace levels of carbohydrate monomers in complex matrices requires excellent discrimination of the peaks of interest from background noise. Minimizing contaminating peaks introduced during sample preparation and chromatography is extremely important. However, the exquisite selectivity of the mass spectrometer is essential as a chromatographic detector in this regard. Traditionally gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been the method of choice for trace analysis of derivatized carbohydrates. Recent improvements in commercial tandem mass spectrometers (MS-MS) are encouraging the use of GC-MS-MS for improved specificity in trace analysis. There has also been an explosion in applications of electrospray ionization (ESI) for sensitive introduction of polar molecules (including sugars) into the mass spectrometer. This has encouraged ongoing developments in high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and MS-MS of underivatized carbohydrates. This has the potential to dramatically simplify sample preparation. However, as yet LC-MS and MS-MS do not match the sensitivity of GC-MS or GC-MS-MS. Developments in analysis of sugar monomers from complex matrices using chromatography (GC/LC) in conjunction with mass spectrometry (MS, MS-MS) or stand-alone MS-MS are discussed.     

Hyphenated techniques in anticancer drug monitoring. I. Capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Muramic acid (Mur) is present in the cell wall of Eubacteria and serves as a chemical marker for the trace detection of bacteria and bacterial cell wall debris in complex matrices. There have been numerous studies using a variety of derivatives of Mur, particularly in combination with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) where the detection limit has been steadily lowered. A stable, halogenated derivative, the pentafluorobenzyl oxime (PFBO) acetate of Mur, has been developed by others and successfully used for GC with electron-capture detection. The current report is the first use of this derivative for GC-MS-MS analysis of Mur, or indeed any other carbohydrate, using negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) with GC-MS-MS. Mur was readily detected in settled surface dust (166 ng/mg), as well as dust collected from indoor air (1.4-5.9 ng/mg). Analyses of Mur as a PFBO acetate by GC-NICI-MS-MS or as alditol acetates by electron impact GC-electron impact ionization MS-MS serve as complementary approaches for trace detection in complex matrices.     

Solid-phase micro-extraction-gas chromatography-(tandem) mass spectrometry as a tool for pesticide residue analysis in water samples at high sensitivity and selectivity with confirmation capabilities

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been widely applied for pesticide monitoring because of its high sensitivity and specificity and for the potential of multi-residue and multi-class analysis. An analytical procedure was developed for the determination of pesticide multi-residues in water samples combining solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry. For SPME extraction a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-divinylbenzene coated fibre was selected whereas the mass spectrometer was operated under full scan, selected ion storage (SIS), microSIS (SIM) and MS-MS and the figures of merit compared. Quantitative and qualitative (confirmatory) capabilities of each operation mode are discussed. Using MS-MS, precision was typically below 10% and limits of detection (LODs) were improved by 1.3 to 20 times (to low- or sub-ppt levels) compared to microSIS, with the advantage of maintaining identification capabilities. The combination of selective extraction by SPME and highly selective determination by GC-MS-MS made possible ultra-selective and essentially error-free determination of pesticides in complex environmental samples. This aspect will be highlighted in the paper.     

Pulsed flow modulation two-dimensional comprehensive gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with supersonic molecular beams

Pulsed flow modulation (PFM) two-dimensional comprehensive gas chromatography (GC x GC) was combined with quadrupole-based mass spectrometry (MS) via a supersonic molecular beam (SMB) interface using a triple-quadrupole system as the base platform, which enabled tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS). PFM is a simple GC x GC modulator that does not consume cryogenic gases while providing tunable second GC x GC column injection time for enabling the use of quadrupole-based mass spectrometry regardless its limited scanning speed. The 20-ml/min second column flow rate involved with PFM is handled, splitless, by the SMB interface without affecting the sensitivity. The combinations of PFM GC x GC-MS with SMB and PFM GC x GC-MS-MS with SMB were explored with the analysis of diazinon and permethrin in coriander. PFM GC x GC-MS with SMB is characterized by enhanced molecular ion and tailing-free fast ion source response time. It enables universal pesticide analysis with full scan and data analysis with reconstructed single ion monitoring on the enhanced molecular ion and another prominent high mass fragment ion. The elimination of the third fragment ion used in standard three ions method results in significantly reduced matrix interference. GC x GC-MS with SMB improves the GC separation, and thereby our ability for sample identification using libraries. GC-MS-MS with SMB provides better reduction (elimination) of matrix interference than GC x GC-MS. However, it is a target method, which is not always applicable. GC x GC-MS-MS does not seem to further reduce matrix interferences over GC-MS-MS and unlike GC x GC-MS, it is incompatible with library identification, but it is beneficial to have both GC x GC and MS-MS capabilities in the same system.     

Comparison of gas chromatography-pulsed flame photometric detection-mass spectrometry, automated mass spectral deconvolution and identification system and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry as tools for trace level detection and identification

The complexity of a matrix is in many cases the major limiting factor in the detection and identification of trace level analytes. In this work, the ability to detect and identify trace level of pesticides in complex matrices was studied and compared in three, relatively new methods: (a) GC-PFPD-MS where simultaneous PFPD (pulsed flame photometric detection) and MS analysis is performed. The PFPD indicates the exact chromatographic time of suspected peaks for their MS identification and provides elemental information; (b) automatic GC-MS data analysis using the AMDIS ("Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System") software by the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (c) GC-MS-MS analysis. A pesticide mixture (MX-5), containing diazinon, methyl parathion, ethyl parathion, methyl trithion and ethion was spiked, in descending levels from 1 ppm to 10 ppb, into soil and sage (spice) extracts and the detection level and identification quality were evaluated in each experiment. PFPD-MS and AMDIS exhibited similar performance, both superior to standard GC-MS, revealing and identifying compounds that did not exhibit an observable GC peak (either buried under the chromatographic background baseline or co-eluting with other interfering GC peaks). GC-MS-MS featured improved detection limits (lower by a factor of 6-8) compared to AMDIS and PFPD-MS. The GC-PFPD-MS-MS combination was found useful in several cases, where no reconstructed ion chromatogram MS-MS peaks existed, but an MS-MS spectrum could still be extracted at the elution time indicated by PFPD. The level of identification and confirmation with MS-MS was inferior to that of the other two techniques. In comparison with the soil matrix, detection limits obtained with the loaded sage matrix were poorer by similar factors for all the techniques studied (factors of 5.8, >6.5 and 4.0 for AMDIS, PFPD-MS and MS-MS, respectively). Based on the above results, the paper discusses the trade-offs between detectivity and identification level with the compared three techniques as well as other more traditional techniques and approaches.     

Assessment of the pollutant elimination efficiency by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and -tandem mass spectrometry. Comparison of conventional and membrane-assisted biological wastewater treatment processes

The elimination efficiency of advanced conventional biological wastewater treatment was compared to membrane-assisted biological wastewater treatment. The sum parameter analyses dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) or substance-specific analyses such as gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry, flow injection analysis (FIA-MS) and liquid chromatography (LC-MS) in combination with mass or tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) were applied to assess elimination of hardly eliminable compounds in both types of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Reduction of DOC and COD in wastewater treatment processes confirmed a favourable elimination efficiency. Substance-specific methods which were applied in addition permitted a qualitative and semi-quantitative assessment of elimination with a visual pattern recognition approach. In order to identify pollutants either the NIST library of electron impact mass spectra for unpolar compounds or the laboratory-made collision-induced dissociation spectra library for polar pollutants was used. To assess elimination efficiency FIA-MS in the selected ion monitoring mode (SIM) besides high selective substance-specific mass spectrometric techniques such as parent ion scans and neutral loss scans were used for quantification. Results proved that membrane-assisted treatment was more effective than advanced biological treatment. In both types of WWTPs predominantly unpolar pollutants were eliminated, while all effluents were dominated by polar compounds of anthropogenic and biogenic origin. These unpolar and polar compounds which had been identified as hardly eliminable are reported about. Quantitative results obtained by FIA-MS, LC-MS and MS-MS for the elimination of alkyl polyglycol ethers, nonylphenol ethoxylates and linear alkylbenzenesulfonic acids from wastewater are presented.     

Detection and identification of thyreostats in the thyroid gland by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Because thyreostatic compounds, also named thyreostats, are banned in Europe (directive 86/469/EEC), methods have to be developed to prevent the illegal use of these substances. The analytical procedure described herein involves the detection and identification at the low ng g⁻¹ level of the main thyreostats known to be used for growth promotion by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The assay is based on a liquid/liquid extraction of the thyroid gland, derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide (PFBBr), purification on a silica solid phase extraction column and finally a trimethylsilylation prior to GC-MS. Good thyreostat recoveries were obtained (from 40% to 70%) as well as at acceptable repeatability. The target analytes were detectable below the 1 ng g⁻¹ level on a quadrupole mass spectrometer with negative chemical ionization (NCI) using ammonia as reagent gas and the selected ion monitoring (SIM) acquisition mode. This limit of detection was also reached in the SIM high resolution mode. An improved specificity (more diagnostic ions) was obtained under electronic impact (EI) conditions and positive chemical ionization (PCI) with methane as reagent gas. Identification of thyreostats according to the EU (European Union) criteria (93/256/EEC decision) was made on the basis of two independent GC-MS techniques; the limit of identification was close to 5 ng g⁻¹ for most thyreostats, which represents a real improvement for their control.     

气相色谱-质谱联用快速检测毛豆中103种农药多残留

建立了固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱法快速检测毛豆中103种农药多残留的分析方法.样品用乙腈-水溶液均质提取,经盐析除水液液分配,Envi-18和PSA串联柱净化后用气相色谱-质谱仪(GC-MS)分析.采用选择离子扫描方式,外标法定量.方法的检出限(S/N=3)为0.001～0.021 mg/kg,在加标水平为0.2 mg/kg时,方法回收率为74%～123%,相对标准偏差为3.1%～13%.     

Determination of estrone and 17 beta-estradiol in human hair by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An efficient procedure is described for the determination of estrone and 17 beta-estradiol in hair by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The method involves alkyloxycarbonylation with isobutyl chloroformate (isoBCF) of phenolic hydroxy groups after alkaline digestion of hair samples. The resulting isobutyloxycarbonyl derivatives of estrone and 17 beta-estradiol are extracted with hexane and subjected to chlorodifluoroacetyl derivatization in order to protect the remaining alcoholic hydroxy groups. When GC-MS with selected ion monitoring (SIM) was used, the quantitative ions were at m/z 270 and 384 in the electron ionization mass spectra for estrone and 17 beta-estradiol, respectively. The detection limits for SIM of the steroids were 1 and 2 pg, respectively, and the SIM responses were linear with correlation coefficients varying from 0.991 to 0.994 in the concentration range 0.2-4.0 ng g-1 for the estrogens studied. The detection of estrone and 17 beta-estradiol in hair samples was possible in the concentration range of 0.24-1.30 ng g-1. The concentrations of the two estrogens detected were different in male and female hair samples.     

Determination of tebufenpyrad and oxadiazon by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Summary A method for determination of trace amounts of the pesticides tebufenpyrad and oxadiazon, previous solid-phase microextraction (SPME), was developed using gas chromatographymass spectrometry and selected ion monitoring (GC-MS; SIM). Both pesticides were extracted with a fused silica fiber coated with 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane. The effects of pH ionic strength, sample volume, extraction and desorption times as well as extraction temperature were studied. The linear concentration range of application was 0.5–250 ng mL⁻¹ for both compounds, with a detection limit of 0.06 ng mL⁻¹ for tebufenpyrad and 0.02 ng mL⁻¹ for oxadiazon. SPME-GC-MS analysis yielded good reproducibility (RSD between 7.5–10.1%). It was used to check the eventual existence of tebufenpyrad and oxadiazon above this limit in water and soil samples from Granada (Spain) as well as in human urine samples. The method validation was completed with spiked matrix samples. It can be applied as a monitoring tool for water, soil and urine in the investigation of environmental and occupational exposure to tebufenpyrad and oxadiazon.     

Analysis of the amino acid and sugar composition of streptococcal cell walls by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A procedure for determining the amino acid and sugar composition of streptococcal peptidoglycan-polysaccharide complexes by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was established. Amino acids are analysed as butyl heptafluorobutyl derivatives and sugars as alditol acetates. These two different groups of compounds are derivatized independently but chromatography in both cases utilizes the same OV-1701 fused-silica capillary column which simplifies GC-MS analysis. The butyl heptafluorobutyl procedure incorporates new pre- and post-derivatization clean-up steps. Additionally, selected-ion monitoring MS allows amino acids to be readily analysed without interference from background noise.     

Comparison of gas chromatographic and gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric techniques for the analysis of TNT and related nitroaromatic compounds

The use of capillary column gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the analysis of a series of standard solutions (0.1 to 10 μg/ml) of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and eight other nitroaromatic components was evaluated. The techniques included gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC/ECD), full scan and selected ion monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with electron impact ionization (EI/FS and EI/SIM), full scan and selected ion monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with positive ion chemical ionization using methane reagent gas (PICI/FS and PICI/SIM), and full scan and selected ion monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with negative ion chemical ionization using methane reagent gas (NICI/FS and NICI/SIM). The performance of the techniques was comapared by determining the linear response range, precision, and detection limits of the analyses.     

Determination of pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl in green groceries by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method for determination of trace amounts of the fungicides pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl in green groceries, previous headspace solid-phase microextraction (HSSPME), was developed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and selected ion monitoring (GC-MS, SIM). Both fungicides were extracted with a fused-silica fiber coated with 85 microm polyacrylate. The effects of pH, ionic strength, extraction and desorption times as well as the extraction temperature were studied. The linear concentration range of application was 12.5-250 ng g(-1) for both compounds, with detection limits of 1.8-2.0 ng g(-1) for pyrimethanil and 2.8-3.1 ng g(-1) for kresoxim-methyl. SPME/GC-MS analysis yielded good reproducibility (RSD between 7.4 and 15.0%). It was applied to check the eventual existence of pyrimethanil and kresoxim-methyl above the detection limits on grapes, strawberries, tomatoes and ketchup samples. The method validation was completed with spiked matrix samples. It can be applied as a monitoring tool in grapes, strawberries, tomatoes and ketchup samples.     

Determination of pesticide residues in olives and olive oil by matrix solid-phase dispersion followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A novel analytical approach has been developed and evaluated for the quantitative analysis of a selected group of widely used pesticides (dimethoate, simazine, atrazine, diuron, terbuthylazine, methyl-parathion, methyl-pirimiphos, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulphate, cypermethrin and deltamethrin), which can be found at trace levels in olive oil and olives. The proposed methodology is based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), (with a preliminary liquid-liquid extraction in olive oil samples) using aminopropyl as sorbent material with a clean-up performed in the elution step with Florisil, followed by mass spectrometric identification and quantitation of the selected pesticides using both gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) in positive ionization mode. The recoveries obtained (with mean values between 85 and 115% (obtained at different fortification levels) with RSD values below 10% in most cases, confirm the usefulness of the proposed methodology for the analyses of these kind of complex samples with a high fat content. Moreover, the obtained detection limits, which were below 5 microg kg(-1) by LC-MS analyses and ranged from 10 to 60 microg kg(-1) by GC-MS meet the requirements established by the olive oil pesticide regulatory programs. The method was satisfactorily applied to different olives and olive oil samples.     

Glass capillary or fused-silica gas chromatography--mass spectrometry of several monosaccharides and related sugars: improved resolution

The gas chromatographic separation of several monosaccharides and related sugars derivatized by methoxylation and trimethylsilylation reactions was optimized with glass capillary (SP-2250) and fused silica (SP-2100) columns. Individual sugars included aldoses, ketoses, polyols, acidic forms and N-acetylated amino sugars. Peaks were detected by selected ion monitoring (SIM). The fused silica column gave complete resolution of all peaks (two per hexose and one per hexitol) arising from glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose, sorbitol, mannitol and dulcitol. The resolution of these sugars with the glass capillary column was not as good, but full differentiation was possible on the basis of SIM. Because the fused silica column gave a better resolution of 33 sugars tested and was more easily installed than the glass capillary column, it was utilized for quantitative analysis. A deuterated algal sugar mixture used for quantitation by isotope dilution was found to contain glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, ribose and rhamnose. Full recoveries were obtained of various amounts of glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose and xylose added to human serum.     

气相色谱-质谱法检测鳗鱼中三氯杀螨醇残留量

建立了固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱(SPE-GC-MS)检测鳗鱼中三氯杀螨醇残留量的分析方法。样品先用正己烷配合乙腈、水均质提取,再加入氯化钠继续均质,离心分层;取部分乙腈层溶液浓缩后过Florisil柱净化,用正己烷淋洗去除油脂,再用乙酸乙酯-正己烷(1:19, v/v)洗脱分析物;将洗脱液吹干后用正己烷溶解定容,并进行GC-MS分析。采用选择离子监测(SIM)模式检测,外标法定量。在优化的样品前处理条件和GC-MS条件下,方法的定量限(S/N=10)小于0.01 mg/kg;在加标水平为0.01～0.1 mg/kg时,回收率为91%～105%,相对标准偏差为4.3%～6.1%。该方法准确、灵敏、快速,可满足鳗鱼中三氯杀螨醇残留的检测要求。     

Simultaneous determination of phenolic acids and 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A procedure using gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) has been developed for the identification and quantification of some allelochemicals in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The quantities of allelochemicals in wheat shoots ranged from 2.9 to 110 mg per kilogram of dry shoot residues. Compared with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the GC-MS-MS technique significantly increased instrument selectivity and sensitivity, thereby providing more reliable quantitation results in the determination of the phytotoxic compounds examined during this allelopathy research.     

Rapid and sensitive analysis of azadirachtin and related triterpenoids from Neem (Azadirachta indica) by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectrometry, a HPLC-MS method was developed to permit the rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of azadirachtin and related tetranortriterpenoids from seeds and tissue cultures of Neem (Azadirachta indica). APCI+ standard scanning mass spectra of the major Neem triterpenoids were recorded and utilized to select suitable ions for selected ion monitoring (SIM). Transitions for selective reaction monitoring (SRM) were based on MS-MS experiments. Using SIM, major Neem triterpenoids were detected in callus culture material and seed kernels of A. indica. The limit of detection for azadirachtin in extract samples (approximately 1 ng ml(-1) or 10 pg in SIM mode) was determined to be (with respect to injected absolute amounts) approximately 1000-times lower than values quoted in the literature for existing HPLC methods (approximately 200 ng ml(-1) or 10 ng). In addition to high sensitivity, the HPLC-MS method is able to tolerate minimal sample preparation and purification, dramatically reducing total analysis time.     

Spectral transformations for deconvolution methods applied on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data

In hyphenated chromatography, overlapping chromatographic peaks can be resolved into pure spectra and pure chromatographic profiles by several multivariate deconvolution techniques. In general, these methods require bilinearity, which implies that the spectrum of each analyte is constant. The slow scan speeds normally used in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) will destroy bilinearity and introduce systematic noise in the data because the concentration in the detector changes during the scan. This effect, described as the scan effect, may hinder successful resolution by multivariate deconvolution. In selected ion monitoring (SIM) GC-MS, the scan effect may be removed by simple transformations of the mass spectra. The effects of different transformations are demonstrated both on pure chromatographic peaks and on difficult resolution problems where there are small differences between the spectra of the analytes.     

分散固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用法测定水产品中的痕量酮麝香

建立了水产品中痕量酮麝香测定的分散固相萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用法(GC-MS)。目标化合物经1%乙酸-乙腈高速匀浆提取,以N-丙基乙二胺(PSA)、C₁₈和石墨化碳(GCB)混合物为分散剂对其进行净化,采用GC-MS在选择离子监测模式下测定,外标法定量,并应用正交试验对前处理条件进行优化,以及对酮麝香的裂解机制进行探讨。在优化条件下,方法在1～50 μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数不低于0.999,检出限(S/N=3)为0.30 μg/kg。对于明虾和罗非鱼空白样品,在1.0、2.0、10.0 μg/kg 3个水平下的加标回收率为91.8%～110.6%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为2.6%～8.4%。该方法操作简便、快速、准确,可用于水产品中痕量酮麝香的日常检验。