Sadao Nakamura

Determination of estrogens in river water by gas chromatography–negative-ion chemical-ionization mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of estrogens (17alpha-estradiol, 17beta-estradiol, estrone, ethynyl estradiol, and estriol) as pentafluorobenzyl-trimethylsilyl (PFB-TMS) derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with negative-ion chemical-ionization (NICI) is described. The NICI of all the derivatives produced an intense [M-PFB]- ion as the base peak. The reagent gas (methane) flow-rate and the ion source temperature were determined to be 2.0 ml/min and 240 degrees C, respectively, for the optimized NICI-selected ion monitoring (SIM) conditions. The sensitivities of the PFB-TMS derivatives in the NICI mode were 8.0-130 times higher than those of the PFB-TMS derivatives in electron ionization (EI) mode, and 12-25 times higher than those of all the TMS derivatives in the EI mode. This method was applied to the analysis of estrogens in river water using a solid-phase extraction as the sample preparation. The recoveries of the target chemicals from a river-water sample spiked with standards at 2 ng/l level were 85.8-126.5% (RSD, 6.2-13.0%). The methodical detection limits ranged from 0.10 to 0.28 ng/l.

Trace level determination of phenols as pentafluorobenzyl derivatives by gas chromatography–negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A method for the trace level determination of 11 phenols as pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with negative-ion chemical ionization (NICI) is described. First, the conditions for the PFB derivatisation of phenols were optimized and were found to be reaction temperature 80 degrees C and reaction time 5 h. Second, the detection limits using selected ion monitoring (SIM) were compared between trimethylsilylated (TMS) derivatives in the electron ionization (EI) mode and PFB derivatives in the NICI mode. The responses for the PFB derivatives in the NICI mode were 3.3-61 times higher than those of the TMS derivatives in the EI mode. The instrumental detection limits using NICI-SIM ranged from 2.6 to 290 fg. This method was applied to the analysis of phenols in river water using solid-phase extraction. The recoveries of the phenols from a river water sample spiked with standards at 100 ng l-1 with 2-chlorophenol, 4-chloro-3-methylphenol and pentachlorophenol and at 1000 ng l-1 with phenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and 4-nitrophenol were 81.2-106.3% (RSD 5.1-8.0%), except for 2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol, for which the recoveries were 5.8 and 4.2%, respectively, because water contained in the acetone eluate interfered with the derivatisation of these compounds with two electrophilic nitro groups.

Analysis of waterborne paints by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with a temperature-programmable pyrolyzer

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with a temperature-programmable pyrolyzer was used for the analysis of waterborne paints. Evolved gas analysis (EGA) profiles of the waterborne paints were obtained by this temperature-programmed pyrolysis directly coupled with MS via a deactivated metal capillary tube. The EGA profile suggested the optimal thermal desorption conditions for solvents and additives and the subsequent optimal pyrolysis temperature for the remaining polymeric material. Polymers were identified from pyrograms with the assistance of a new polymer library. The solvents were identified from the electron ionization mass spectra with the corresponding chemical ionization mass spectra. The additive was identified as zinc pyrithione by comparison with authentic standard. Zinc pyrithione cannot be analyzed by GC-MS as it is. However, the thermal decomposition products of zinc pyrithione could be detected. The information on the decomposition temperature and products was useful for the identification of the original compound.

Determination of organochlorine pesticides in river water by gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical-ionization mass spectrometry using large volume injection

A method for the determination of 24 organochlorine pesticides by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with negative-ion chemical-ionization (NICI) using programmable temperature vaporizer (PTV)-based large volume injection (LVI) is described. The ion source temperature was determined to be 150 °C for the optimized NICI-selected ion monitoring (SIM) conditions. PTV inlet parameters were also optimized. The sensitivities of the pesticides by splitless-GC-NICI-MS were approximately 7.8–360 times higher than those of the pesticides by splitless-GC-EI-MS. The sensitivities of the pesticides by LVI-GC-NICI-MS were over 80 times higher than those of the pesticides by spiltless-GC-NICI-MS. This method was applied to the determination of the pesticides in river water using micro liquid–liquid extraction as sample preparation. The recoveries of the pesticides from a river water sample spiked with standards at 2 ng l−1 and 20 ng l−1were 75–111% (RSD, 2.9–15%) and 92–105% (RSD, 0.5–5.6%), respectively. The methodical detection limits ranged from 0.004 to 2.2 ng l−1

Matrix behavior during sample preparation using metabolomics analysis approach for pesticide residue analysis by GC-MS in agricultural products.

The detailed matrices and their behaviors during pesticide residue analyses were clarified using a metabolomics analysis approach. The matrix profile was investigated using two different extraction solvents, acetone and acetonitrile. Acetone extracted the matrix components with a wide range of log P(O/W) values. Components with log P(O/W) values >10, such as sterols and tocopherols, and components with log P(O/W) values <3.2 were more extracted by acetone than by acetonitrile. In contrast, components with log P(O/W) values in the range from 3.2 to 10 were extracted by both acetone and acetonitrile at the same concentration level. The study also examined the difference in the column cleanup efficiency using a solid phase extraction (SPE). Florisil, silica gel, NH(2), PSA, and GCB were selected as representative columns for pesticide residue analysis, and acetone extraction of brown rice was selected in this experiment. Most of the matrix components were removed by either column, whereas monoacylglycerols, which are the components causing the matrix effect, were not removed by any column. Understanding such a detailed matrix behavior helps to develop a better analytical method for pesticide analysis using GC-MS.