Koit Herodes

Matrix effects in pesticide multi-residue analysis by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Three sample preparation methods: Luke method (AOAC 985.22), QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) and matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) were applied to different fruits and vegetables for analysis of 14 pesticide residues by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI/MS). Matrix effect, recovery and process efficiency of the sample preparation methods applied to different fruits and vegetables were compared. The Luke method was found to produce least matrix effect. On an average the best recoveries were obtained with the QuEChERS method. MSPD gave unsatisfactory recoveries for some basic pesticide residues. Comparison of matrix effects for different apple varieties showed high variability for some residues. It was demonstrated that the amount of co-extracting compounds that cause ionization suppression of aldicarb depends on the apple variety as well as on the sample preparation method employed.

A review of analytical techniques for determination of Sudan I-IV dyes in food matrixes.

Sudan dyes are a family of lipophilic azo dyes, extensively used in industrial and scientific applications but banned for use as food colorants due to their carcinogenicity. Due to the continuing illicit use of Sudan dyes as food colorants their determination in different food matrices--especially in different chilli and tomato sauces and related products--has during the recent years received increasing attention all over the world. This paper critically reviews the published determination methods of Sudan I-IV dyes. LC-UV-vis and LC-MS are the dominating methods for analysis of Sudan I-IV dyes. Sudan dyes are usually found in food at mg kg(-1) levels at which it may be necessary to use a preconcentration step in order to attain the desired detection limits. Liquid-solid extraction is the dominating sample preparation procedure. In recent years it has been supplemented by ultrasonic-assisted extraction and pressurized liquid extraction. Various solid phase extraction types have been used for sample cleanup. The large majority of works use conventional C18 columns and conventional LC eluents. Traditionally the UV-vis absorbance detection has been the most frequently used. In the recent years MS detection is applied more and more often as it offers more reliable identification possibilities.

Electrospray ionization efficiency scale of organic compounds.

Ionization efficiency (IE) of different compounds in electrospray ionization (ESI) source differs widely, leading to widely differing sensitivities of ESI-MS to different analytes. An approach for quantifying ESI efficiencies (as logIE values) and setting up a self-consistent quantitative experimental ESI efficiency scale of organic compounds under predefined ionization conditions (ionization by monoprotonation) has been developed recently. Using this approach a logIE scale containing 62 compounds of different chemical nature and ranging for 6 orders of magnitude has been established. The scale is based on over 400 relative IE (DeltalogIE) measurements between more than 250 different pairs of compounds. To evaluate which molecular parameters contribute the most to the IE of a compound linear regression analysis logIE values and different molecular parameters were carried out. The two most influential parameters in predicting the IE in ESI source are the pK(a) and the molecular volume of the compound. This scale and the whole approach can be a tool for practicing liquid chromatographists and mass spectrometrists. It can be used in any mass-spectrometry laboratory and we encourage practitioners to characterize their analytes with the logIE values so that a broad knowledge base on electrospray ionization efficiencies of compounds would eventually develop.

Simultaneous determination of fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides and tetracyclines in sewage sludge by pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry.

A new scheme for the quantitative determination of traces of fluoroquinolones (FQs), tetracyclines (TCs) and sulfonamides (SAs) in sewage sludge was developed. The compounds were simultaneously extracted from sewage sludge by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). A novel and effective method for PLE was developed. Solid-phase extraction was used for cleaning up the extracts. Identification and quantification of the compounds was done using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in selected reaction monitoring mode. The best recovery of FQs and TCs was obtained by using hydrophilic-lipophilic balance cartridges, recoveries ranged 59% for norfloxacin to 82% for ofloxacin and 95% for doxycycline; for SAs strong cation-exchange cartridges were more efficient, recoveries were 96% for sulfamethoxazole and 43% for sulfadimethoxine. Limit of quantification ranged from 0.1 ng/g for SAs to 160 ng/g for tetracycline. Method precision for TCs was 5.06% and 1.12%, and for SAs 0.43% and 2.01%. FQs precision ranged from 0.77% to 1.89%.

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry methods: Part II

This is the part II of a tutorial review intending to give an overview of the state of the art of method validation in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and discuss specific issues that arise with MS (and MS-MS) detection in LC (as opposed to the conventional detectors). The Part II starts with briefly introducing the main quantitation methods and then addresses the performance related to quantification: linearity of signal, sensitivity, precision, trueness, accuracy, stability and measurement uncertainty. The last section is devoted to practical considerations in validation. With every performance characteristic its essence and terminology are addressed, the current status of treating it is reviewed and recommendations are given, how to handle it, specifically in the case of LC-MS methods.

Combating matrix effects in LC/ESI/MS: The extrapolative dilution approach

Liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry--LC/ESI/MS--a primary tool for analysis of low volatility compounds in difficult matrices--suffers from the matrix effects in the ESI ionization. It is well known that matrix effects can be reduced by sample dilution. However, the efficiency of simple sample dilution is often limited, in particular by the limit of detection of the method, and can strongly vary from sample to sample. In this study matrix effect is investigated as the function of dilution. It is demonstrated that in some cases dilution can eliminate matrix effect, but often it is just reduced. Based on these findings we propose a new quantitation method based on consecutive dilutions of the sample and extrapolation of the analyte content to the infinite dilution, i.e. to matrix-free solution. The method was validated for LC/ESI/MS analysis of five pesticides (methomyl, thiabendazole, aldicarb, imazalil, methiocarb) in five matrices (tomato, cucumber, apple, rye and garlic) at two concentration levels (0.5 and 5.0 mg kg(-1)). Agreement between the analyzed and spiked concentrations was found for all samples. It was demonstrated that in terms of accuracy of the obtained results the proposed extrapolative dilution approach works distinctly better than simple sample dilution. The main use of this approach is envisaged for (a) method development/validation to determine the extent of matrix effects and the ways of overcoming them and (b) as a second step of analysis in the case of samples having analyte contents near the maximum residue limits (MRL).

Presence of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in urban sewage sludge and their degradation as a result of composting

The concentrations of some widely used pharmaceuticals, namely fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin C17 H18FN3O3, norfloxacin C17 H18FN3O3 and ofloxacin C18 H20FN3O4 and sulfonamides (sulfadimethoxine C12 H14N4O4s and sulfamethoxazole C10 H11N3O3S were determined in urban sewage sludge utilized for making compost. The levels of degradation of these pharmaceuticals resulting from sludge treatment were assessed. The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals sufficiently varied both in sewage sludge and in compost and due to this phenomenon the possible danger resulting from the presence of pharmaceuticals in sewage sludge, used for composting, can not be ignored. The concentrations of the studied pharmaceuticals were lower in compost, if compared to the relevant concentrations in sewage sludge. The highest pharmaceutical concentration in sewage sludge — 426 μg/kg — was detected in the case of ciprofloxacin. The highest concentrations present in compost were 22 μg/kg of norfloxacin and 20 μg/kg of ciprofloxacin. Results show that before using the sewage sludge for making compost or before using the compost a fertilizer for food plants, they should be carefully tested against the content of commonly used pharmaceuticals.

Solute-solvent and solvent-solvent interactions in binary solvent mixtures. 2. Effect of temperature on the ET(30) polarity parameter of dipolar hydrogen bond acceptor-hydrogen bond donor mixtures

The effect of temperature on the Dimroth-Reichardt ET(30) parameter of binary mixtures of dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile and nitromethane with alcohols and water was studied. The ET(30) polarity parameter of many of these binary mixtures exhibits a strong synergism. Dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile and nitromethane form hydrogen-bonded complexes with the alcohols more polar than themselves. The ET(30) values of the mixtures were fitted according to an earlier model, based on solvent exchange equilibria, that allows calculation of the ET(30) values of the hydrogen-bonded complexes. The variation of the ET(30) values of the pure solvents and the hydrogen-bonded complexed solvents with temperature shows that the synergism decreases as the temperature increases.

Solute–solvent and solvent–solvent interactions in binary solvent mixtures. Part 8. The ET(30) polarity of binary mixtures of formamides with hydroxylic solvents

Solvent effects on the binary mixtures of amides with alcohols and water were investigated by means of Reichardts ET(30) solvatochromic indicator. E parameters of binary solvent mixtures of formamide, N-methylformamide and N,N-dimethylformamide with water, methanol, propan-2-ol, 2-methylpropan-2-ol, formamide, N-methylformamide and N,N-dimethylformamide were measured over the whole composition range of the mixtures. Application of a preferential solvation model to the solvatochromic data shows that the preferential solvation of the solvatochromic indicator by the amides decreases in the order N-methylformamideu2005>u2005formamideu2005>u2005N,N-dimethylformamide. Synergism is observed for the mixtures of the amides with alcohols of similar polarity (E value), i.e. methanol–formamide, methanol–N-methylformamide, propan-2-ol–N,N-dimethylformamide and 2-methylpropan-2-ol–N,N-dimethylformamide binary systems. Copyright

A sensitive method for free amino acids analysis by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection using precolumn derivatization with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate: application to the honey analysis.

In case of some foods and drinks, their amino acid content is demonstrated to correlate with the botanical and/or geographical origin of the plant. In present work a method for amino acid analysis in honey was developed and validated. The method consists of sample preparation (including solid phase extraction), derivatization with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate and liquid chromatographic analysis. Full separation of 23 amino acids was achieved. All steps were extensively studied and optimized for analytical performance. Although ultraviolet (UV) detection provides sufficient sensitivity for honey analysis, all the steps of the method were designed to be compatible with mass spectrometric (MS) detection. The developed method has been applied to analysis of nearly 200 Estonian honey samples.