Comparison of high resolution gas chromatography with electron impact and negative ion mass spectrometry detection for the determination of coplanar polychlorobiphenyl congeners in sewage sludges

The three most toxic coplanar PCB 77, 126 and 169 have been identified and quantified at ultra trace levels (0.02–4.8 ng/gdw) in swiss sewage sludge samples applying high resolution capillary gas chromatography (HRGC) and electron impact (EI) as well as negative ion chemical ionization (NCI) mass spectrometry (MS). NCI mass spectra have been dominated by the molecular ion as base peak and virtually no fragmentation has been observed. Detection limits of the planar PCB under single ion monitoring (SIM) conditions have been typically 100 fg for NCI-MS and 1 pg for EI-MS. NCI-MS was the preferred detection method for the determination of very low concentrations of these important contaminants in sewage sludge samples.     

Investigation of drift gas selectivity in high resolution ion mobility spectrometry with mass spectrometry detection

Recent studies in electrospray ionization (ESI)/ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) have focussed on employing different drift gases to alter separation efficiency for some molecules. This study investigates four structurally similar classes of molecules (cocaine and metabolites, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and small peptides) to determine the effect of structure on relative mobility changes in four drift gases (helium, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide). Collision cross sections were plotted against drift gas polarizability and a linear relationship was found for the nineteen compounds evaluated in the study. Based on the reduced mobility database, all nineteen compounds could be separated in one of the four drift gases, however, the drift gas that provided optimal separation was specific for the two compounds.     

Optimized cleanup method for the determination of short chain polychlorinated n-alkanes in sediments by high resolution gas chromatography/electron capture negative ion-low resolution mass spectrometry

The performances of three adsorbents, i.e. silica gel, neutral and basic alumina, in the separation of short chain polychlorinated n-alkanes (sPCAs) from potential interfering substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides were evaluated. To increase the cleanup efficiency, a two-step cleanup method using silica gel column and subsequent basic alumina column was developed. All the PCB and organochlorine pesticides could be removed by this cleanup method. The very satisfying cleanup efficiency of sPCAs has been achieved and the recovery in the cleanup method reached 92.7%. The method detection limit (MDL) for sPCAs in sediments was determined to be 14 ng g⁻¹. Relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of 5.3% was obtained for the mass fraction of sPCAs by analyzing four replicates of a spiked sediment sample. High resolution gas chromatography/electron capture negative ion–low resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/ECNI–LRMS) was used for sPCAs quantification by monitoring [M−HCl]⁻ ions. When applied to the sediment samples from the mouth of the Daliao River, the optimized cleanup method in conjunction with HRGC/ECNI–LRMS allowed for highly selective identifications for sPCAs. The sPCAs levels in sediment samples are reported to range from 53.6 ng g⁻¹ to 289.3 ng g⁻¹. C₁₀- and C₁₁-PCAs are the dominant residue in most of investigated sediment samples.     

Enhanced mass resolution tandem mass spectrometry method for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin detection with ion trap mass spectrometry using high damping gas pressure

Damping gas flow was optimized for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) determination using ion trap mass spectrometer. A tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) method with better than unit-mass resolution (mass width, 0.3 u) was developed at a damping gas flow of 1.5 ml/min and a collision-induced dissociation (CID) voltage of 3.30 V. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) at the enhanced resolution was 2.9% in 24 h of consecutive injections. The detection limit was significantly improved because the efficiency of both precursor ion trapping and fragmentation increased with the damping gas flow. Product ion yield was 4.5 times higher and limit of detection was 3.2 times lower than at the default flow (0.3 ml/min and 1.65 V).     

Characterization and determination of PCB isomers by high resolution gas chromatography and HRGC/mass spectrometry

An integrated analytical procedure for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) multiresidues in environmental samples has been developed and applied to well-characterized samples. PCB residues are characterized and quantified using wall coated open tubular column (WCOT) gas chromatography or HRGC/MS-selected ion monitoring. An automated data system based on a Spectra Physics SP-4200 computing integrator is used to select and quantitate peaks of individual congeners and homolog groups. This procedure consistently yields results with a reproducibility within 3 percent for HRGC-ECD and 3.7 percent for HRGC/MS-SIM technique respectively.     

Determination of phthalates in crude extracts of sewage sludges by high-resolution capillary gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

A simple solvent extraction by ethyl acetate without subsequent cleanup was used to determine 16 phthalic acid esters (PAEs), including bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), in sewage sludge samples from different catchment areas. The compounds were separated on a gas chromatographic capillary column with a nonpolar HT-8 stationary phase. For most of the PAEs, internal standard quantification with deuterated dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and deuterated DEHP was best achieved by using electron ionization mass spectrometry in the selected-ion monitoring mode. Because of its high concentrations in the sludges, DEHP was quantified in the full-scan acquisition mode. Molecular weight and ester-type information for the PAEs was obtained in the positive chemical ionization mode with methane as the reagent gas. Finally, selected sewage sludges containing different amounts of industrial wastewater were analyzed by the proposed method. DEHP was the most abundant compound found at 21-114 mg/kg x dm, followed by the lower-molecular weight PAEs diethyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, and DBP and the higher-molecular weight compounds butylbenzyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, and dinonyl phthalate, which were present mostly at <1 mg/kg x dm.     

Analysis of brominated dioxins and furans by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry

This article reviews the available literature on the analysis of brominated dibenzo-p dioxins and furans (PBDD/Fs) by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). Sample extraction and clean up, injection techniques, chromatographic separation, labelled standards and QA/QC works are discussed. Furthermore, full separation of PBDD/Fs from polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) during clean up and control of possible chromatographic interference of PBDEs during instrumental analysis as well as possible actions to further enhance the quality of published data are discussed in detail.     

Determination of polybrominated biphenyls in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) by gas chromatography coupled to electron capture negative ion tandem mass spectrometry or electron ionization high‐resolution mass spectrometry

Two gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methods for the determination of polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) by isotope dilution analysis (IDA) using ¹³C₁₂‐PBB 153 in the presence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were compared. Recovery of ¹³C₁₂‐PBB 153 which was added to the extracted lipids before sample purification was commenced ranged from 88–117% (mean value 98.2 ± 8.9%). Nevertheless, IDA analysis of PBBs using ¹³C₁₂‐labelled congeners is limited by the potential co‐elution of PBBs with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The pair PBB 153 and BDE 154 was inspected since M⁺ and [M–2Br]⁺ ions of ¹³C₁₂‐PBB 153 and BDE 154 were only separated by 4 u. Gas chromatography/electron ionization high‐resolution mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring (GC/EI‐HRMS‐SIM) was suitable when m/z 475.7449 and m/z 477.7429 were used for ¹³C₁₂‐PBB 153 because they are below the monoisotopic peak of the [M–2Br]⁺ fragment ion of hexaBDEs at m/z 479.7. Gas chromatography/electron capture negative ion tandem mass spectrometry selected reaction monitoring (GC/ECNI‐MS/MS‐SRM) measurements could be applied because ¹³C₁₂‐PBB 153 and BDE 154 were separated by GC on a 25‐m Factor Four CP‐Sil 8MS column. Comparative measurements with GC/EI‐HRMS‐SIM and GC/ECNI‐MSMS‐SRM were carried out with samples of Tasmanian devils from Tasmania (Australia), an endangered species due to a virus epidemy which has already proved fatal for half of the population. Both techniques verified concentrations of PBB 153 in the range 0.3–11 ng/g lipids with excellent agreement of the levels in all but two samples. The PBB residue pattern demonstrated that PBB pollution originated from the previous discharge with technical hexabromobiphenyl which is dominated by PBB 153. Other congeners such as PBB 132 and PBB 138 were detected in the Tasmanian devils but the proportions relative to PBB 153 were lower than in the technical product. Samples of healthy and affected Tasmanian devils showed no significant difference in the PBB pollution level. The PBB concentrations in the Tasmanian devils were significantly below those causing toxic effects. On the other hand, PBB concentrations were one level or even higher than PBDEs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High resolution gas chromatography of technical chlordane with electron capture- and mass selective detection

Summary High resolution gas chromatography with electron capture- and mass selective detection was used for the characterization of the constituents of the technical cyclodiene pesticide chlordane. Degradation reactions were used for confirmation of tentatively identified chlordane components in environmental samples. The pattern of chlordane congeners in cod liver from Norway is described. Compared to the technical product the nonachloro congeners are unchanged in their relative occurrence. Among the octachloro congeners, trans-chlordane is diminished relative to the cis-chlordane.

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Hochauflösende Gas-Chromatographie von technischem Chlordan mit Hilfe der Elektroneneinfang- und massenselektiven Detektion

     

Capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with chemical ionization and negative ion detection for confirmation of identity of patulin in apple juice

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with negative ion chemical ionization permits detection of underivatized patulin in apple juice extracts while minimizing co-extractive responses. The technique has been used with a variety of capillary columns in quadrupole, ion trap, and magnetic sector GC/MS instruments to confirm presumptive findings of patulin in apple juice at concentrations ranging from 68 to 3700 micrograms/L. The demonstrated ability to use any of these 3 mass spectrometers and several capillary columns to confirm the identity of patulin are significant strengths of the technique.     

Simultaneous determination of triazine herbicides in rice by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution and high mass accuracy hybrid linear ion trap-orbitrap mass spectrometry

A method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 10 triazine herbicides (cyanazine, simazine, simetryn, metribuzin, atrazine, ametryn, terbuthylazine, prometryn, terbutryn, and dimethametryn) in rice samples by high resolution and high mass accuracy hybrid linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. After extraction with acetonitrile and evaporation, the herbicides were redissolved in n-hexane and purified on a Florisil solid-phase extraction column. All compounds were separated within 12 min, producing more than 11 data points for each herbicide and high mass accuracy quantified ions which the mass errors of absolute value were less than 1.9 ppm in pure solution and 2.1 ppm in the matrix-matched standards solution. The method was validated in terms of the limits of detection and the limits of quantification. The linearity was satisfactory, with a correlation coefficient of >0.9975. Precision and recovery studies were evaluated at three concentration levels for Japonica, Indica, and Glutinous rice matrix. The mean recoveries obtained for all analytes in spiked Xiushui 03, Liangyoupeijiu, and Taihunuo rice samples were 83.3–99.0%, 82.0–99.7%, and 84.2–99.4%, respectively, with relative standard deviation in range 1.7–10.6%, 1.2–10.7%, and 1.9–11.6% for spiked rice samples, respectively. The intra-day precision (n = 5) for the 10 herbicides in rice samples spiked at an intermediate level was between 2.8% and 7.9%, and the inter-day precision over 10 days (n = 10) was between 5.5% and 15.9%.     

Analysis of dinitrofluoranthenes by high resolution capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

This paper reports the retention indices of eighteen of the possible twenty-five dinitrofluoranthene isomers.     

Structural determination of zinc dithiophosphates in lubricating oils by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with electron impact and electron-capture negative ion chemical ionization

Pentafluorobenzyl ester derivatives were used to identify zinc dialkyldithiophosphates and diaryldithiophosphates antiwear engine oil additives by GC-electron impact ionization (EI) MS and GC-electron-capture negative ion chemical ionization (ECNCI) MS analysis. GC-EI-MS of the dialkyldithiophosphate-pentafluorobenzyl derivatives afforded characteristic fragment ions corresponding to the cleavage of one and two alkyl radicals. In most cases, information was only obtained on one alkyl chain. Additional and complete information was obtained with retention time indices using synthetic derivatives and with GC-ECNCI-MS analysis. ECNCI afforded characteristic dithiophosphate anions which allowed the determination of the total number of carbon atoms in the alkyl radicals. The diastereoisomer mixtures of 2-hydroxy-sec.-alkyl radicals were completely separated on GC analysis.     

Comparison of negative and positive ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of oxidized deoxynucleosides

Oxidized deoxynucleosides are widely used as biomarkers for DNA oxidation and oxidative stress assessment. Although gas chromatography mass spectrometry is widely used for the measurement of multiple DNA lesions, this approach requires complex sample preparation contributing to possible artifactual oxidation. To address these issues, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to measure 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine (8-OH-dA), 2-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine (2-OH-dA), thymidine glycol (TG), and 5-hydroxy-methyl-2'-deoxyuridine (HMDU) in DNA samples with fast sample preparation. In order to selectively monitor the product ions of these precursors with optimum sensitivity for use during quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis, unique and abundant fragment ions had to be identified during MS/MS with collision-induced dissociation (CID). Positive and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectra with CID were compared for the analysis of these five oxidized deoxynucleosides. The most abundant fragment ions were usually formed by cleavage of the glycosidic bond in both positive and negative ion modes. However, in the negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectra of 8-OH-dG, 2-OH-dA, and 8-OH-dA, cleavage of two bonds within the sugar ring produced abundant S1 type ions with loss of a neutral molecule weighing 90 u, [M - H - 90]-. The signal-to-noise ratio was similar for negative and positive ion electrospray MS/MS except in the case of thymidine glycol where the signal-to-noise was 100 times greater in negative ionization mode. Therefore, negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry with CID would be preferred to positive ion mode for the analysis of sets of oxidized deoxynucleosides that include thymidine glycol. Investigation of the fragmentation pathways indicated some new general rules for the fragmentation of negatively charged oxidized nucleosides. When purine nucleosides contain a hydroxyl group in the C8 position, an S1 type product ion will dominate the product ions due to a six-membered ring hydrogen transfer process. Finally, a new type of fragment ion formed by elimination of a neutral molecule weighing 48 (CO2H4) from the sugar moiety was observed for all three oxidized purine nucleosides.     

Gas chromatography coupled to electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry with nitrogen as the reagent gas – an alternative method for the determination of polybrominated compounds

Gas chromatography in combination with electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI‐MS) is a sensitive method for the determination of polybrominated compounds in environmental and food samples via detection of the bromide ion isotopes m/z 79 and 81. The standard reagent gas for inducing chemical ionization in GC/ECNI‐MS is methane. However, the use of methane has some drawbacks as it promotes carbonization of the filament and ion source. In this study, we explored the suitability of nitrogen as reagent gas for the determination of brominated flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), allyl‐2,4,6‐tribromophenyl ether (ATE) and 2,3‐dibromopropyl‐2,4,6‐tribromophenyl ether (DPTE)) and halogenated natural products (for instance, methoxylated tetrabrominated diphenylethers and polybrominated hexahydroxanthene derivatives). An ion source temperature of 250°C and a nitrogen pressure of 7 Torr in the ion source gave the highest response for m/z 79 and 81 of virtually all investigated polybrominated compounds. Using these conditions, nitrogen‐mediated GC/ECNI‐MS usually gave higher sensitivity than the method with methane previously used in our lab. In addition, the ion source was not contaminated to the same degree and the lifetime of the filament was significantly increased. Moreover, the response factors of the different polybrominated compounds with the exception of 2,4,6‐tribromophenol were more uniform than with methane. Nitrogen is available at very high purity at relatively low price. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Broad-spectrum determination of pesticides in groundwater by gas chromatography with electron capture detection, nitrogen-phosphorus detection, and tandem mass spectrometry.

Gas chromatography with electron capture detector (ECD), nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used to identify 36 pesticides, widely used to control various pest and diseases in vegetables, in water after a preconcentration step on C18 cartridges. The recoveries obtained ranged from 70 to 135% at a fortification level of 100 ng/L with relative standard deviations of <36.2%. The limits of detection and quantitation were < or =48 and < or =160 ng/L, respectively. Important advantages of MS/MS over ECD and NPD in the determination of pesticides are also presented. The proposed analytical methodology was applied to the determination of pesticides in groundwater samples from an agricultural area, the Campo de Dalías (Almería, Spain). The most frequently encountered pesticides were endosulfan sulfate and metalaxyl, whereas the pesticide found at the highest concentration was fenamiphos.     

Perfluoroalkyl ketones: novel derivatization products for the sensitive determination of fatty acids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in electron impact and negative chemical ionization modes

Analytically useful pentafluoro ketone derivatives of fatty acids are described. The gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric characteristics of these new derivatives are compared with those of methyl, trimethylsilyl and pentafluorobenzyl esters. Pentafluoro ketones exhibit excellent chromatographic properties and significantly shorter chromatographic retention times than these other esters. The electron impact mass spectra of these new compounds show informative acylium ions, whose intensity decreases with the degree of unsaturation of the parent fatty acid. The formation of strong and informative fragment ions in negative chemical ionization (CH(4)) mass spectra of pentafluoro ketone derivatives allows the detection and the characterization (length of the chain and number of double bonds) of fatty acids at trace levels (femtomole), even in the case of polyunsaturated compounds. The scope and limitations of this new derivatization technique are also discussed.     

Trace determination of alpha- and beta-endosulfan and three metabolites in human serum by gas chromatography electron capture detection and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Endosufan, alpha and beta, and three conversion products, sulphate, ether and lactone, were simultaneously determined in human serum by means of an analytical procedure which combines extraction with organic solvents, clean-up with H(2)SO(4) and by liquid column chromatography, and detection by gas chromatography (GC) using electron capture detection (ECD) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The procedure was validated and the values of some merit figures, such as linear range, detection and quantitation limits, accuracy, precision and recovery, obtained with the GC/ECD and the GC/MS/MS methods, were compared. The lower limits of detection in GC/ECD and GC/MS/MS were 0.03 and 0.05 microg I(-1), respectively. The recovery of the pesticides at the 20 microg I(-1) concentration level was 60-65%, with the exception of endosufan alpha. Recovery studies at higher levels (100 and 200 microg I(-1)) were independent of pesticide concentration in serum samples. The application of the proposed analytical methodology to the determination of endosulfans and their metabolites in real samples was tested by analyzing serum samples from a population living in agricultural areas of Almeria (Spain). The results show the advantage of MS/MS over the ECD detector in the analysis of serum samples where matrix interferences can be confused with target pesticides.