Planar solid phase extraction--a new clean-up concept in multi-residue analysis of pesticides by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Efficient clean-up is indispensable for preventing matrix effects in multi-residue analysis of pesticides in food by liquid and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. As a completely new approach, highly automated planar chromatographic tools were applied for powerful clean-up, called high-throughput planar solid phase extraction (HTpSPE). Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used to completely separate pesticides from matrix compounds and to focus them into a sharp zone, followed by extraction of the target zone by the TLC-MS interface. HTpSPE resulted in extracts nearly free of interference and free of matrix effects, as shown for seven chemically representative pesticides in four different matrices (apples, cucumbers, red grapes, tomatoes). Regarding the clean-up step, quantification by LC-MS provided mean recovery (against solvent standards) of 90-104% with relative standard deviations of 0.3-4.1% (n=5) for two spiking levels of 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg. Clean-up of one sample was completed in a manner of minutes, while running numerous samples in parallel at reduced costs, with very low sample and solvent volumes.     

蔬菜中阔草清等8种农药残留量的高效液相色谱-质谱分析

建立了固相萃取-高效液相色谱-电喷雾质谱法同时测定蔬菜中的阔草清、西玛津、硫双威、绿麦隆、扑草净、仲丁威、马拉硫磷和二嗪农等8种农药的分析方法.蔬菜用乙腈超声波提取,经过ODS-C18固相萃取小柱富集纯化.采用C18柱分离,以体积分数0.03%甲酸乙腈-体积分数0.03%甲酸水溶液为流动相,线性梯度洗脱,以保留时间和质荷比对分离出的组分进行定性,用峰面积进行定量.结果表明,8种农药的质量浓度与其峰面积在一定的范围内呈良好的线性关系,检出限为0.1～5.0 μg/L,相关系数为0.9939～0.9998,样品的加标平均回收率为83%～106%,相对标准偏差为3.1%～9.8%.方法适用于蔬菜中阔草清等8种农药残留量的分析.     

Enantioselective analysis of methadone in saliva by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Saliva was tested and evaluated as a biological matrix for methadone (Mtd) monitoring. Conventional method using a narrow bore C18 column, and an enantioselective method using a narrow bore alpha1-acid glycoprotein column, were developed using liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectromeric (MS) detector. After optimisation of MS conditions by flow injection analysis, selected ion monitoring detection was used to enhance sensitivity. The total Mtd concentration and the enantiomeric ratio in saliva were validated using an experimental design. The methods were applied to samples provided by heroin addicts undergoing a Mtd treatment. Results on total Mtd determination showed a very poor correlation between saliva and serum, whereas the enantiomeric ratios of Mtd gave a very good one.     

Metabolite identification by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Metabolite identification (Met ID) is important during the early stages of drug discovery and development, as the metabolic products may be pharmacologically active or toxic in nature. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has a towering role in metabolism research.This review discusses current approaches and recent advances in using LC-MS for Met ID. We critically assess and compare various mass spectrometers, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Citing appropriate examples, we cover recent LC and ion sources, isotopic-pattern matching, hydrogen/deuterium-exchange MS, data dependent analyses, MS^E, mass defect filter, 2D and 3D approaches for the elucidation of molecular formula, polarity switching, and background-subtraction and noise-reduction algorithms. A flow chart outlines a comprehensive strategy for Met ID, including a focus on reactive metabolites.     

Sequence analysis of derivatized peptides by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

N-Acetyl-N,O,S-permethylated derivatives of oligopeptides were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) using a moving belt interface. A heated-gas nebulizer was employed for sample deposition, thus permitting the effective use of a water-methanol gradient covering the range from 5% to 95% water at mobile phase flow-rates of 0.5 ml/min. We demonstrate in this paper that it is possible to sequence the octapeptide derived from the C-chain of glucagon by HPLC-MS analysis of a permethylated enzymatic hydrolysate of this peptide using overlap information from the mass spectral patterns. Moreover, it is shown that peptides not readily amenable to analysis by gas chromatography-MS can be analyzed using this approach. Preliminary results suggest that N-acetyl-methyl ester derivatives of oligopeptides may in specific cases also be a useful alternative for HPLC-MS analysis of complex oligopeptide mixtures.     

QuEChERS-液相色谱-质谱法快速筛查和确证大米中205种农药残留

结合QuEChERS法与液相色谱-三重四极杆复合线性离子阱质谱(LC-Q-TRAP/MS)技术,建立了大米中205种农药残留的快速筛查确证方法。大米样品经乙腈提取,N-丙基乙二胺(PSA)、无水MgSO₄和C₁₈吸附剂净化后,采用多反应监测-信息关联采集-增强子离子(MRM-IDA-EPI)扫描方式及谱库检索技术,通过对化合物的保留时间、离子对以及高灵敏度的EPI谱库检索比对,完成了205种农药的筛查与确证,并采用外标法定量,实现了大米样品中205种农药的定性和定量分析。结果表明,所有农药的线性相关系数均大于0.995;方法的定量限在0.5~10.0 μg/kg之间。在10、50 μg/kg两个添加水平下,205种农药的平均回收率在62.4%~127.1%之间;相对标准偏差(RSD)在1.0%~20.0%之间。该方法能够对大米样品进行实际检测,且检测时间不超过20 min。该方法快速、准确、灵敏度高,适合于大米中农药残留的快速、全面筛查和确证分析。     

Future potential of targeted component analysis by multidimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Multidimensional liquid chromatography (MDLC) may be used in either (i) the profiling mode where it is the objective to fractionate all components in a mixture or (ii) the targeted component mode in which it is the objective to determine specific analytes. This paper focuses on targeted component analysis from complex mixtures, addressing the critical operations of analyte selection and transport from the first to the second dimension. Although the physical operation of switching a component into the second dimension with computer controlled valving is simple, it is shown that changes in analyte retention time and peak width with column age and fouling are a serious problem. The analyte moves out of the preselected time window for valve switching and quantitation is compromised in the second dimension. It is proposed that a solution to the “drifting peak” phenomenon in targeted component analysis is to use binary mobility elution in the first dimension. Binary mobility refers to those systems, such as affinity chromatography, in which analyte mobility is generally either 0 or 1 relative to mobile phase velocity. Coupling these binary changes in analyte mobility in the first dimension with valve switching eliminates the “drifting peak” phenomenon. In addition, it is shown that a wide time window may be used in affinity separations without compromising the separation or accumulating contaminants. Several cases are described in which immunosorbents were used with reversed phase columns to provide quantitative targeted component analyses from complex mixtures.     

Analysis of carbamate and phenylurea pesticide residues in fruit juices by solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A new analysis method to detect carbamates and phenylurea pesticide residues in fruit juices was developed using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with liquid chromatography-single quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and liquid chromatography-quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/QIT-MS). The pesticide residues present in watery matrices as fruit juices were extracted using three types of fibers: 50-microm Carbowax/templated resin (CW/TPR), 60-mum poly(dimethylsiloxane)/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) and 85-microm polyacrylate. The different extraction conditions were evaluated choosing as the best parameters 90 min (time), 20 degrees C (temperature) and 1 ml (volume). After extraction, the desorption (in a static mode) was performed in the specific interface chamber SPME/HPLC, previously filled with 70% methanol and 30% water. The best recoveries, evaluated at two fortification levels (0.2 and 0.5 mg kg(-1)) in fruit juices, were obtained using PDMS/DVB and CW/TPR fibers, and ranged from 25 to 82% (monolinuron, diuron and diethofencarb), with relative standard deviations (RSDs) from 1 to 17%. All the limits of quantification (LOQs) were in the range of 0.005-0.05 microg ml(-1) and, in any case, equal to, or lower than, maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by Italian and Spanish legislations. The mass spectrometry analyses were carried out using an electrospray ionization (ESI) source operating in the positive mode both for single quadrupole and for QIT mass analysers, operating in selected ion monitoring (SIM) and in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes, respectively. The proposed new method can be applied to the determination of selected pesticides in real samples of fruit juices.     

Search on ruggedness of fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in pesticide residues analysis

In this study, suitability of fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) on a narrow-bore column with a programmed temperature vaporizer for the analysis of pesticide residues in non-fatty food was evaluated. The main objectives were ruggedness and stability of chromatographic system with regards to co-extractives injected. The chromatographic matrix induced response enhancement was found to be strongly dependent on the concentration of residues and is reaching up to 700% compared to the pesticides solutions in a neat solvent. However, the responses of pesticides in matrix-matched standards at different concentration levels do not significantly change during 130 injections. Response enhancement/or decrease is influenced by the sample preparation technique. External calibration with matrix-matched calibration standards should, therefore, provide results with good precision also at the concentration level of 0.005 mg kg(-1). Special attention is given to the performance of the chromatographic column and retention gap with regards to peak widths, peak tailing and different sample preparation methods. During approximately 460 matrix sample injections, the performance of the analytical column was acceptable. GC-MS set-up with 0.15 mm i.d. column can be successfully utilized for the pesticide residues analysis.     

气相色谱-质谱联用法测定农药制剂中29种助剂

建立了气相色谱-质谱联用法（GC-MS）同时测定农药制剂中29种助剂的方法。农药制剂经甲醇稀释,取上清液过0.22 μm滤膜后检测分析。采用VF-1701MS毛细管柱（60 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm）分离,选择离子监测模式下（SIM）测定,外标法定量。结果表明,29种农药助剂在6.2~400.0 mg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数（R²）均大于0.99,方法定量限为4.4~439.1 mg/kg,乳油型和可溶液剂型农药样品的平均加标回收率分别为82.0%~111.9%和82.6%~112.9%,相对标准偏差为0.4%~7.2%和0.3%~8.2%（RSD,n=6）。应用该方法对110份农药制剂样品进行检测,其中28份检出苯酚、N-甲基吡咯烷酮、二氯甲烷、正己烷等共11种农药助剂,含量范围为0.05%~15.65%。此方法操作简单,灵敏度高,准确性好,适用于农药制剂中29种助剂的同时检测。     

Determination of ink photoinitiators in packaged beverages by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A new analytical method, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) techniques, was developed for the determination in packaged food beverages of five ink photoinitiator residues: 2-isopropylthioxanthone (ITX), benzophenone, 2-ethylhexyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EHDAB), 1-hydroxycyclohexyl-1-phenyl ketone (IRGACURE 184) and ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDAB). Samples were extracted from selected beverages (milk, fruit juices and wine) and relative packagings, using n-hexane and dichloromethane, respectively, purified on solid-phase extraction (SPE) silica gel cartridges, and then analyzed in GC/MS and LC/MS. The recovery percentages, obtained spiking the beverage samples at concentrations of 4 and 10 microgl(-1) with a standard mixture of photoinitiators, were in the range 42-108% (milk), 50-84% (wine), and 48-109% (fruit juices). The repeatability of the method was assessed in all cases by the % of correlation value, that was lower than 19%. The lowest limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs), obtained using GC/MS, were in the range 0.2-1 and 1-5 microgl(-1), respectively. The method was applied to the analysis of forty packaged food beverages (milk, fruit juices and wine samples). The most significant contamination was that of benzophenone, found in all samples in a concentration range of 5-217mugl(-1). Its presence was confirmed by an LC/Atmospheric-Pressure PhotoIonization (APPI)/MS/MS analysis. The photoinitiator (EHDAB) was found in eleven out of forty beverages in a concentration range of 0.13-0.8 microgl(-1). Less important was the ITX contamination, found in three out of forty samples in a range 0.2-0.24 microgl(-1). The work proposes a new method to analyze ink photoinitiator residues in polycoupled carton packaging and in contained food beverages.     

Multi-residue pesticide analysis in fruits and vegetables by liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In this work, a new multi-residue methodology using liquid chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) for the quantitative (routine) analysis of 15 pesticide residues has been developed. The analytical performance of the method was evaluated for different types of fruit and vegetables: pepper, broccoli, tomato, orange, lemon, apple and melon. The accurate mass measurements were compared in different matrices at significantly different concentration levels (from 0.01 to 0.5 mg/kg) obtaining accuracy errors lower than 2 ppm, which is well within the accepted limits for elemental confirmation. Linearity of response over two orders of magnitude was demonstrated (r > 0.99). Matrix effects resulting in suppression or enhancement of the response were frequently observed, most notably in broccoli and citrus. Instrumental limits of detection (LOD) were between 0.0005 and 0.03 mg/kg depending on the commodity and pesticide studied, all being within European Union regulations for food monitoring program. Finally, the methodology was applied to the analysis of two samples from an inter-laboratory exercise. The high degree of confirmation for target pesticides by accurate mass measurements demonstrated the applicability of the method in routine analysis. This study is a valuable indicator of the potential of LC-TOF-MS for quantitative multi-residue analysis of pesticides in vegetables and fruits.     

Simultaneous determination of 405 pesticide residues in grain by accelerated solvent extraction then gas chromatography-mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new method has been established for simultaneous determination of 405 pesticide residues in grain, using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), solid-phase extraction (SPE), and GC-MS and LC-MS-MS. The method was based on appraisal of the GC-MS and LC-MS-MS characteristics of 660 pesticides, their efficiency of extraction from grain, and their purification. Samples of grain (10 g) were mixed with Celite 545 (10 g) and the mixture was placed in a 34-mL cell of an accelerated solvent extractor and extracted with acetonitrile in the static state for 3 min with two cycles at 1,500 psig and at 80°C. For the 362 pesticides determined by GC-MS, half of the extracts were cleaned with an Envi-18 cartridge and then further cleaned with Envi-Carb and Sep-Pak NH₂ cartridges in series. The pesticides were eluted with acetonitrile-toluene, 3:1, and the eluates were concentrated and used for analysis after being exchanged with hexane twice. For the 43 pesticides determined by LC-MS-MS the other half of the extracts were cleaned with Sep-Pak Alumina N cartridge and further cleaned with Envi-Carb and Sep-Pak NH₂ cartridges. Pesticides were eluted with acetonitrile-toluene, 3:1. After evaporation to dryness the eluates were diluted with acetonitrile-water, 3:2, and used for analysis. In the linear range of each pesticide the linear correlation coefficient r was equal to or greater than 0.956 and 94% of linear correlation coefficients were greater than 0.990. At low, medium, and high fortification levels, at the limit of detection (LOD), twice the LOD and ten times LOD, respectively, recoveries ranged from 42 to 132%; for 382 pesticides, or 94.32%, recovery was from 60 to 120%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was always below 38% and was below 30% for 391 pesticides, or 96.54%. The LOD was 0.0005–0.3000 mg kg⁻¹. The proposed method is suitable for determination of 405 pesticide residues in grain such as maize, wheat, oat, rice, and barley, etc.      

Accurate analysis of trace pentachlorophenol in textiles by isotope dilution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A highly accurate method for measuring pentachlorophenol (PCP) concentrations in textile samples was developed. This highly accurate method for the analysis of textile samples is valuable, given the inherent challenges associated with the complexity of the sample matrix. This method can be applied to certify the concentration of pentachlorophenol in textile CRMs. A measurement procedure based on isotope dilution liquid chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS) was developed. Samples were pretreated with acid and then with n-hexane. Excellent precision was obtained. The validated concentration ranges for the method were 1.0-50 ng/g, the LOD was 1.0 ng/g, and the LOQ was 5.0 ng/g. The precision of this method is in the range of 0.80-1.40%. The method can trace to mass.     

液相色谱-质谱法测定饲料中阿维菌素类药物

建立了饲料中阿维菌素类药物(阿维菌素、多拉菌素、埃普菌素和伊维菌素)液相色谱-质谱(LC-MS)检测法. 用乙腈提取样品中的药物, 加水稀释, 加三乙胺调节pH, 经C18固相萃取柱净化, LC-MS法测定. 结果表明, 方法平均回收率为91.3%～99.8%, RSD为2.9%～15% (n=4), 配合饲料、浓缩饲料和预混合饲料中的检出限均为10 μg/kg; 定量限均为20 μg/kg. 方法可用于饲料样品中阿维菌素类药物残留量的确证检测.     

State-of-the-art in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Impressive progress has been made in the technology and application of combined liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in the past decennium. From a technique, that could only be used by a specialist, it has developed into a routinely applicable technique. LC-MS has become the method-of-choice of analytical support in many stages of drug development within pharmaceutical industries and has found its way into environmental, biochemical and other laboratories. This paper provides a perspective on the current technology, principles and applications of LC-MS.     

Isotope tag method for quantitative analysis of carbohydrates by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

We have previously demonstrated that liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry equipped with a graphitized carbon column (GCC-LC/MS) is useful for the structural analysis of carbohydrates in a glycoprotein. Here, we studied the monosaccharide composition analysis and quantitative oligosaccharide profiling by GCC-LC/MS. Monosaccharides were labeled with 2-aminopyridine and then separated and monitored by GCC-LC/MS in the selective ion mode. The use of tetradeuterium-labeled pyridylamino (d4-PA) monosaccharides as internal standards, which were prepared by the tagging of standard monosaccharides with hexadeuterium-labeled 2-aminopyridine (d6-AP), afforded a good linearity and reproducibility in ESIMS analysis. This method was successfully applied to the monosaccharide composition analysis of model glycoproteins, fetuin, and erythropoietin. For quantitative oligosaccharide profiling, oligosaccharides released from an analyte and a standard glycoprotein were tagged with d0- and d6-AP, respectively, and an equal amount of d0- and d4-PA oligosaccharides were coinjected into GCC-LC/MS. In this procedure, the oligosaccharides that existed in either analyte or a standard glycoprotein appeared as single ions, and the oligosaccharides that existed in both analyte and a standard glycoprotein were detected as paired ions. The relative amount of analyte oligosaccharides could be determined on the basis of the analyte/internal standard ion-pair intensity ratio. The quantitative oligosaccharide profiling enabled us to make a quantitative and qualitative comparison of glycosylation between the analyte and standard glycoproteins. The isotope tag method can be applicable for quality control and comparability assessment of glycoprotein products as well as the analysis of glycan alteration in some diseases.     

Structural analysis of underivatized sialic acids by combined high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Mass spectra of chemically ionized, positive ions of underivatized N,O-acylated sialic acids, 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid and sialyl-alpha(2-3)-lactose were obtained by combined high-performance liquid chromatography--mass spectrometry, using a direct liquid inlet system. The mass spectra of the different compounds for which fragmentation schemes are proposed enable the differentiation between sialic acids, although the localization of O-substituents is not possible. However, since the various sialic acids separated well on high-performance liquid chromatography, combined high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry allowed their unequivocal characterization.     

Investigating the presence of pesticide transformation products in water by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with different mass analyzers

Many pesticide transformation products (TPs) can reach environmental waters as a consequence of their normally having a higher polarity than their parent pesticides. This makes the development of analytical methodology for reliable identification and subsequent quantification at the sub-microgram per liter levels necessary, as required under current legislation. In this paper we report the photodegradation of several pesticides frequently detected in environmental waters from the Spanish Mediterranean region using the high-resolution and exact-mass capabilities of hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF MS) hyphenated to liquid chromatography (LC). Once the main photodegradation/hydrolysis products formed in aqueous media were identified, analytical methodology for their simultaneous quantification and reliable identification in real water samples was developed using on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE)-LC-tandem MS with a triple-quadrupole (QqQ) analyzer. The methodology was validated in both ground and surface water samples spiked at the limit of quantification (LOQ) and 10 x LOQ levels, i.e. 50 and 500 ng/l, obtaining satisfactory recoveries and precision for all compounds. Subsequent analysis of ground and surface water samples resulted in the detection of a number of TPs higher than parent pesticides. Additionally, several soil-interstitial water samples collected from the unsaturated zone were analyzed to explore the degradation/transformation of some pesticides in the field using experimental plots equipped with lisimeters. Several TPs were found in these samples, with most of them having also been detected in ground and surface water from the same area. This paper illustrates the extraordinary potential of LC-MS(/MS) with QTOF and QqQ analyzers for qualitative/structural and quantitative analysis, respectively, offering analytical chemists one of the most powerful tools available at present to investigate the presence of pesticide TPs in water.     

液相色谱-质谱法测定水中的苯胺

按照HJ68-2010,建立了液相色谱-质谱法测定水中苯胺的方法.在优化条件后,该方法展示了优异的性能:(a)在10～ 200μg/L范围内具有良好的线性关系,相关系数R为0.9997; (b)与其它方法相比,有较低的检出限,检出限仅为2.0μg/L;(c)精密度和准确度较好,相对标准偏差RSD<6%,空白水样加标回收...