Confirmation of chlorotriazine pesticides,their degradation products and organophosphorus pesticides in soil samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with electron impact and positive- and negative-ion chemical ionization

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with electron impact (EI), positive-ion chemical ionization (PCI) and negative-ion chemical ionization (NCI) were applied as confirmatory techniques for residue analysis of chlorotriazine pesticides, their degradation products and organophosphorus pesticides in soil samples. Clean-up was effected using a Florisil column with subsequent analysis by GC with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. GC-MS with the EI mode of operation is the common mode of confirmation for all the pesticides. Further confirmation by either GC-MS with PCI and NCI for chlorotriazines and organophosphorus pesticides, respectively, is recommended. The method was applied to the determination of residue levels of atrazine, deethylatrazine, deisopropylatrazine, simazine, fenitrothion and tetrachlorvinphos in several soil samples at levels from 5 ng g^?1 to 9 μg g^?1.     

Survey of low-level endocrine disrupting pesticides in food matrices in Slovakia

The search on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in non-fatty food was evaluated. A fast, high-throughput, accurate, multiresidue method for the analysis of selected EDC pesticides in fruit and vegetable food samples was developed. The QuEChERS technique was used for sample preparation. Fast GC-MS was performed with a narrow-bore capillary column and a quadrupole benchtop detector with electron ionization (EI) and negative chemical ionization (NCI). A part of the work was devoted to the comparison of NCI versus EI approach concerning the sensitivity of detection and to the study of selectivity enhancement in NCI mode. Matrix-matched standard solutions were utilized for calibration. The methods validation was performed. Fortification studies at 1, 5, 10 and 250?µg?kg^?1 for 35 pesticides in EI mode and 0.1, 1, 5 and 250?µg?kg^?1 for 28 pesticides in NCI mode were performed. Average recoveries for each fortification level ranged from 70 to 110% with >80% of recoveries between 90 and 110%. Limits of quantification (LOQs) were established at 5?µg?kg^?1 for EI and at 1?µg?kg^?1 for NCI mode, which is lower than the lowest maximum residue level (MRL) value set by the European Commission in fruit and vegetables. The developed and validated fast GC-MS method was successfully applied to the search of EDC pesticides at ultratrace concentration level in real fruit and vegetable samples in Slovakia. Thirty-four samples of 20 different commodities were analyzed. Seven samples contained residues of three or more EDCs pesticides.     

Determination of triazine herbicides in surface and drinking waters by off-line combination of liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Summary Mass spectra of 12 triazines were obtained by electron impact (EI), positive-ion chemical ionization (PCI) and negative-ion chemical ionization (NCI) using methane and isobutane as reagent gases. EI mass spectrometry is more sensitive than PCI and NCI, although the chemical ionization modes increase selectivity markedly. A pre-column packed with polymer stationary phase was employed to preconcentrate surface and drinking water samples. After desorption of the analytes with ethyl acetate, an aliquot was injected directly into the GC-MS system. Atrazine and simizine were found in these samples at 10–80 ppt levels. The limits of detection for both herbicides were below 10 ppt in drinking water.     

Discrimination of structural isomers of chlorinated phenols in waters using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the negative chemical ionization mode

The analysis and identification of structural isomers of mono-, di- and trichlorophenols is reported. The fragmentation of the phenols was examined by GC-MS in both electron impact (EI) and negative chemical ionization (NCI) modes, using methane as reagent gas. The ability of NCI to discriminate these isomeric compounds from differences in relative intensities for selected peaks is demonstrated. 3- and 4-chlorophenols have similar retention times; however, they can still be discriminated because their negative mass spectra and rather different. In dichlorophenols, the presence of one chlorine atom in the ortho position decreases their retention time and the relative intensity of the fragment ion at m/z 140. The NCI mass spectra for trichlorophenols are different from the rest, particularly for the m/z value corresponding to the chlorine atom. Tetra- and pentachlorophenols were also studied and sequential losses of Cl observed. An automatic solid-phase extraction system can optionally be used to preconcentrate chlorophenols in waters prior to determination at legally established toxic levels.     

Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric studies on pyrethroid photo- and biotransformation

Summary Applications of high resolution gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) in pesticide chemistry are demonstrated by pyrethroid photo- and biotransformation studies. Degradation of chrysanthemate pyrethroids (e.g. the natural pyrethrins, allethrin, tetramethrin and cyphenothrin) used as indoor insecticides is investigated by GC-MS using negative chemical ionization (NCI). Ozonolysis results in the formation of carbox-aldehydes as major indoor transformation products. In vitro metabolism of (S)-bioallethrin and the natural pyrethrins by NADPH dependent oxidases is studied using GC-MS with positive chemical ionization (PCI). Interpretation of the PCI mass spectra yields molecular weight and structural information about the metabolites and their derivatives. The photochemistry of novel non-ester pyrethroids with ether or alkane central linkages such as ethofenprox is investigated by electron impact (EI) GC-MS.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of alkylphenols in produced water from offshore oil installations as pentafluorobenzoate derivatives

A simple, highly selective and sensitive method for the determination of 14 representative alkylphenols from phenol (C0) to nonylphenol (C9) in produced water is described. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) by anion-exchange sorbent is used to extract alkylphenols from produced water. The samples are then derivatised by pentafluorobenzoyl chloride and analysed on GC-MS (negative ion chemical ionisation, NCI). The derivatisation procedure has been validated by means of two-level factorial design (2(7-4)) experiments. Quantification is done with isotope dilution of five internal standards of different alkyl chain length. The detection limits were at low ng/l levels. A comparison with GC-MS analysis of non-derivatised alkylphenol samples revealed the advantage of derivatisation as described in the method.     

Determination of chlorothalonil in difficult-to-analyse vegetable matrices using various multiresidue methods

The molecular characteristics of chlorothalonil can cause particular determination difficulties in some vegetable commodities such as leek or garlic. These difficulties are mainly related to the low recoveries obtained using common multi-residue methods (MRMs)--a consequence of the very high interaction level with natural components in the matrix. These shortcomings were pointed out in the last European Proficiency Test for Pesticide Residues on Fruits and Vegetables, where false negatives for chlorothalonil in leek were observed at around 50%. In this study we have evaluated the ethyl acetate, the Dutch mini-Luke and the QuEChERS MRMs to compare their capabilities for chlorothalonil determination using GC-MS/MS in both the electron impact ionization (EI) and negative chemical ionization (NCI) modes. Best recoveries (in the range of 100-120%, with an RSD below 20%) were obtained using the Dutch mini-Luke method. Lower values (52-70%) were obtained for ethyl acetate whereas no recovery was obtained when the QuEChERS method was applied. Furthermore, tomato matrix was also included in the experiments in order to facilitate the comparability of results. Two ionization modes, electron impact ionization (EI) and negative chemical ionization (NCI) in GC-MS/MS, were applied to evaluate their respective advantages and disadvantages for quantification and identification. As expected, NCI showed limits of detection (LODs) 5 to 10 times lower than EI. However, in both cases, the LODs were still below 10 μg kg(-1). The proposed optimal method was applied for chlorothalonil determination in leek and garlic with good results--in accordance with the European Union (EU) Analytical Quality Control (AQC) Guidelines for pesticides analysis.     

GC-MS法检测牛肉中拟除虫菊酯的残留量

建立了柱层析法/气相色谱(GC)-负化学离子源(NCI)质谱检测牛肉中7种常用拟除虫菊酯杀虫剂残留的方法.样品经乙腈提取,通过中性氧化铝层析柱净化后,再由气相色谱-负化学离子源质谱选择离子监测技术(SIM)进行测定.7种菊酯类农药标准溶液在10～1 000 μg/L范围内线性关系良好,r2均大于0.997,在10、20...     

GC-MS/NCI稳定同位素稀释技术检测动物源性食品中氯霉素的残留量

建立了一种用于各种动物源性食品中氯霉素残留量的气相色谱-负化学离子源质谱(GC-MS/NCI)检测方法。以氘代氯霉素(D5-CAP)为内标物,用乙酸乙酯对各类样品中的氯霉素进行提取,用正己烷和40 g/L NaCl溶液液液分配除脂肪,基质复杂的样品再用Oasi HLB固相萃取柱净化,经硅烷化衍生后由GC-MS/NCI在选择离子监测模式下进行测定。多数样品在0.2,0.5,1.0μg/kg3个添加水平下氯霉素的回收率处于87.8%和107.0%之间,相对标准偏差(RSD)不大于8.5%。方法在2.0~80.0μg/L范围内有良好的线性关系,基质复杂样品中氯霉素残留的检出限达到0.1μg/kg,基质简单样品的检测限可达0.05μg/kg。方法适合各种动物源性食品中氯霉素残留量的确证分析。     

Determination of nerve agent metabolites in human urine by isotope-dilution gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after solid phase supported derivatization

A simple and sensitive method has been developed and validated for determining ethyl methylphosphonic acid (EMPA), isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA), isobutyl methylphosphonic acid (iBuMPA), and pinacolyl methylphosphonic acid (PMPA) in human urine using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) coupled with solid phase derivatization (SPD). These four alkyl methylphosphonic acids (AMPAs) are specific hydrolysis products and biomarkers of exposure to classic organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents VX, sarin, RVX, and soman. The AMPAs in urine samples were directly derivatized with pentafluorobenzyl bromide on a solid support and then extracted by liquid–liquid extraction. The analytes were quantified with isotope-dilution by negative chemical ionization (NCI) GC-MS/MS in a selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. This method is highly sensitive, with the limits of detection of 0.02 ng/mL for each compound in a 0.2 mL sample of human urine, and an excellent linearity from 0.1 to 50 ng/mL. It is proven to be very suitable for the qualitative and quantitative analyses of degradation markers of OP nerve agents in biomedical samples.     

气相色谱-负化学离子源质谱法检测食品中苯醚甲环唑的残留量

建立了一种用于各种食品中苯醚甲环唑残留量的气相色谱-负化学离子源质谱(GC-MS/NCI)检测方法。用乙酸乙酯对各类样品中的苯醚甲环唑进行提取,固相萃取(SPE)净化后由GC-MS/NCI在选择离子监测模式下进行测定。方法的准确度和精密度高,多数样品在0.01,0.04,0.10 mg/kg三个添加水平下苯醚甲环唑的回收率处于70%和120%之间,相对标准偏差（RSD）不大于9.5%。方法在0.02～1.00 mg/L范围内有良好的线性关系,且灵敏度高,最低检测限达到0.0005 mg/kg;选择性好,抗干扰能力强,能消除复杂基质带来的干扰,适合各种食品中苯醚甲环唑残留量的确证分析。     

络合萃取-在线衍生土壤酸性除草剂条件选择与优化

以Na4EDTA为络合剂,以五氟苄基溴为衍生试剂,采用快速溶剂萃取仪萃取,同时实现土壤酸性除草剂的络合萃取在线衍生,并以气相色谱-质谱(NCI源)进行检测。对络合条件、衍生条件、萃取条件、离子源选择进行了优化。方法的回收率为75%～95%、相对标准偏差为6.7%～13%、检测限2.8～8.4μg/Kg。     

QuEChERS结合气相色谱-质谱法快速测定职业工人尿液中多溴联苯醚

建立了QuEChERS前处理结合气相色谱-质谱快速测定职业工人尿液中8种多溴联苯醚同系物的分析方法。尿液样在氯化钠和无水硫酸镁的脱水与盐析作用下以正己烷-丙酮混合液提取,采用C18去除提取液中的杂质,并采用气相色谱-负化学源质谱法在选择离子监测模式下测定,内标法定量。三至七溴联苯醚在1~100 pg/μL(十溴联苯醚为10~1 000 pg/μL)范围内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.999。待测物在3个加标水平下的平均回收率为91.7%~110.2%,相对标准偏差(RSD)小于10%。多溴联苯醚的检出限为0.3~36 pg/m L。该方法简单快速,灵敏度和选择性较高,适合职业工人体内污染物暴露水平监测。     

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.     

Determination of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their precursors in biotic matrices

Analytical method for the determination of ultra-trace levels of nitro-PAHs in various biotic matrices has been developed. Soxhlet extraction and/or solvent extraction enhanced by sonication were used for isolation of target analytes; GPC followed by SPE were employed for purification of crude extracts. GC-MS/NCI technique was utilised for identification/quantitation of target analytes. Performance characteristics of implemented method were obtained through thorough in-house validation procedure. The main sources of uncertainties were critically evaluated, possible strategies of their elimination/minimisation were considered and consequently employed. Examination of real-life samples of various foodstuffs (complete human diet, mate tea, pumpkin seed oil, parsley, sausages) was performed in this study.     

Coibamide A, a potent antiproliferative cyclic depsipeptide from the Panamanian marine cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp

Coibamide A (1) is a new, potent antiproliferative depsipeptide which was isolated from a marine Leptolyngbya cyanobacterium collected from the Coiba National Park, Panama. The planar structure of 1 was elucidated by a combination of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Exhaustive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy included natural abundance 15N and variable temperature experiments; mass spectrometry included TOF-ESI-MSn and FT-MSn experiments. Chemical degradation followed by chiral HPLC- and GC-MS analyses was used to assign the absolute configuration of 1. This highly methylated cyclized depsipeptide exhibited an unprecedented selectivity profile in the NCI 60 cancer cell line panel and appears to act via a novel mechanism.     

气相色谱-负化学源质谱联用法测定水产品及食用油中氟乐灵的残留量

建立了一种可用于水产品及食用油中氟乐灵残留量分析的分散型固相萃取-气相色谱-负化学离子源质谱方法。水产品及食用油经乙腈提取,4 ℃冷藏后,采用分散型固相萃取法净化,由气相色谱-负化学离子源质谱选择离子监测技术进行测定与确证,同位素内标法定量。在1~40 μg/L范围内氟乐灵农药的线性关系良好;方法定量限（LOQ）为0.02 μg/kg;对鳗鱼、烤鳗、梭子蟹、小龙虾、猪油和橄榄油等6种复杂基质进行1.0、2.0和3.0 μg/kg等3个水平的添加回收试验,平均回收率均处于80%~100%之间,RSD≤10.3%;无干扰现象出现。该方法可作为水产品及食用油中氟乐灵残留检测的确证方法。     

Integrated system for on-line gas and liquid chromatography with a single mass spectrometric detector for the automated analysis of environmental samples

An integrated system has been developed which combines liquid (LC) and gas (GC) chromatographic separation with a single mass spectrometer (MS). On-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) of 10–200 ml aqueous samples on a short (10 × 2.0 mm I.D.) precolumn packed with a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer is used for analyte enrichment. The trace-enrichment procedure was automated by means of a PROSPEKT cartridge-exchange/solvent-selection/valve-switching unit. After sample loading, the precolumn is eluted on-line in two subsequent runs, first onto the GC-MS system and, next, onto the LC-MS system using a particle beam (PB) interface. Prior to entering the PB-MS, the LC eluent passes through the flow cell of a UV diode-array detector (DAD). Both GC-MS and LC-PB-MS generate classical electron ionisation (EI) and chemical ionisation (CI) spectra which are useful for the identification of low- and sub-μg/l concentrations of environmental pollutants covering a wide polarity and volatility range. The LC-DAD data provide additional means for quantitation and yield complementary spectral information. All three detection systems (GC-MS, LC-DAD, LC-PB-MS) and the trace-enrichment procedure are fully automated and controlled from the keyboard of the central computer. With such a ‘MULTIANALYSIS’ system GC-MS, LC-DAD and LC-MS data of the same sample can be obtained within 3 h. The system was optimised with nine chlorinated pesticides in drinking water as test mixture. With 100-ml samples detection limits in GC-MS were 0.0005−0.03 μg/l, and in LC-PB-MS 0.5–7 μg/l, both in the full-scan (EI) mode. Negative chemical ionisation (NCI) with methane as reagent gas improved the sensitivity of six halogenated compounds 3- to 30-fold and provided relevant information for structural elucidation of unknown compounds in real-world samples. LC-DAD detection limits varied from 0.01 to 0.05 μg/l. Relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) of retention times were less than 0.2% in all systems, R.S.D.s of peak areas were 5–15% for GC-MS and LC-PB-MS and less than 5% for LC-DAD. The ‘MULTIANALYSIS’ system was used to analyse surface water samples and river sediment extracts; several pollutants were detected and identified.     

水生动物及水产品中硫丹及其代谢物残留量的气相色谱-质谱测定

建立了水生动物及水产品中农药硫丹及其代谢物残留量的气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)测定方法;样品经溶剂提取、凝胶层析柱净化;以氦气为载气,甲烷气为反应气,程序升温及负化学源(NCI)电离方式,采用气质联用仪在选择离子监测模式下进行快速测定,保留时间和离子相对丰度比定性、外标法定量;方法定量下限为0.004 mg/kg。在鳗鱼、泥鳅、鲶鱼、虾4种样品中添加不同浓度的硫丹时,其平均添加回收率在71%~87%之间,相对标准偏差(n=10)小于10%。     

Analysis of aldehydes in excipients used in liquid/semi-solid formulations by gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Monitoring of low-molecular-weight aldehyde levels in excipients used in liquid/semi-solid based capsule (LFC) dosage forms plays a critical role in the development of these pharmaceutical products. A simple, sensitive and specific method based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) utilizing an Rtx-5MS capillary column was developed and validated for the detection and quantification of C1-C8 aliphatic aldehydes in LFC excipients at sub-microg/g levels. The proposed procedure is based on the derivatization of aldehydes in 10:1 (v/v) acetonitrile:water with O-2,3,4,5,6-(pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA), followed by direct GC analysis of aldehyde-PFBHA-oxime derivatives with negative chemical ionization (NCI) MS detection. The method developed was successfully applied to the analysis of short chain aldehydes in 30 typical LFC excipients. An example case study on the formation and growth of aldehydes in these excipients under accelerated storage conditions is also reported.