Analysis of odorous trichlorobromophenols in water by in-sample derivatization/solid-phase microextraction GC/MS

The simultaneous determination of several odorous trichlorobromophenols in water has been carried out by an in-sample derivatization headspace solid-phase microextraction method (HS-SPME).The analytical procedure involved their derivatization to methyl ethers with dimethyl sulfate/NaOH and further HS-SPME and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) determination. Parameters affecting both the derivatization efficiency and headspace SPME procedures, such as the selection of the SPME fiber coating, derivatization–extraction time and temperature, were studied. The commercially available polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) 100 μm and Carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (CAR-PDMS-DVB) fibers appeared to be the most suitable for the simultaneous determination of these compounds. The precision of the HS-SPME/GC/MS method gave good relative standard deviations (RSDs) run-to-run between 9% and 19% for most of them, except for 2,5-diCl-6-Br-phenol, 2,6-diCl-3-Br-phenol and-2,3,6-triBr-phenol (22%, 25% and 23%, respectively). The method was linear over two orders of magnitude, and detection limits were compound dependent but ranged from 0.22 ng/l to 0.95 ng/l. The results obtained for water samples using the proposed SPME procedure were compared with those found with the EPA 625 method, and good agreement was achieved. Therefore, the in-sample derivatization HS-SPME/GC/MS procedure here proposed is a suitable method for the simultaneous determination of odorous trichlorobromophenols in water.     

Selective Determination of Se4+ and Se6+ Using SPME and GC/MS

A method for the selective determination of Se⁴⁺ and Se⁶⁺ using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and GC/MS analysis is presented. Se⁴⁺ is selectively derivatized by reaction with 4,5-dichloro-1,2-phenylenediamine to form the corresponding piazselenolo complex, extracted by the SPME fiber, and determined by GC/MS. The RSD at a 5 μg/L concentration was 9.88% and the theoretical detection limit 6 ng/L. The method was employed to test real matrices; tap and river water were analyzed before and after spiking giving a recovery rate of 102% in river water and 97% in tap water.     

Quantitative evaluation of benzene, toluene, and xylene in the larvae of Drosophila melanogaster by solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for potential use in toxicological studies

A simple, rapid, and solvent-free method for quantitative determination of benzene, toluene, and Xylene in exposed Drosophila larvae was developed using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to GC/MS. Larvae fed on standard Drosophila food mixed with benzene, toluene, and Xylene for 48 h were homogenized in Milli-Q water. Extraction of benzene, toluene, and Xylene was performed at 65 degrees C for 30 min on the SPME fiber (silica-fused). Subsequently, the fiber was desorbed in the GC injection port, followed by GC/MS analysis in the selected-ion monitoring mode. An external calibration curve was used for the quantification of benzene, toluene, and Xylene in the exposed organism. Recoveries were in the range of 78-82% (intraday) and 76-81% (interday) in larvae, and 91-96% (intraday) and 87-92% (interday) in the diet. LOD with an S/N of 3:1 and LOQ with an S/N of 10:1 were in the range of 0.01-0.023 and 0.034-0.077 microg/L, respectively. Percent RSD values for benzene, toluene, and Xylene were in the range of 0.50-0.81 (intraday) and 0.89-1.23 (interday) for retention time, and 2.16--3.85 (intraday) and 2.99-4.95 (interday) for peak concentration, showing good repeatability. This method was sensitive enough to quantitate benzene, toluene, and Xylene in small exposed organisms like Drosophila larvae. The SPME/GC/MS method developed may have wider applications in various in vivo toxicological studies.     

Optimisation of a solid-phase microextraction method for the analysis of nicotine in hair

A headspace solid-phase microextraction method (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC/MS) has been developed for the determination of low concentrations of nicotine in hair. Parameters affecting the SPME procedure including type of fiber coating, extraction mode, extraction temperature and time, desorption time, stirring, and salt addition have been evaluated and optimised. The method provided good linearity (r(2)≥0.9980) over the concentration range tested (0.2-20 ng/mg) and low detection limit (0.02 ng/mg). Precision expressed as relative standard deviation was <10%. The average accuracy was 95%. The proposed method was used to determine hair nicotine levels in 100 children in order to assess exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The described HS-SPME procedure is fast, simple, sensitive, and solvent-free and is therefore suitable for studies involving ETS exposure assessment.     

Solid-phase microextraction method for the quantitative analysis of styrene in water

A headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method is developed for the determination of styrene in drinking water. Gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry is utilized for qualitative analysis. A manual SPME holder with 85-microm polyacrylate coating is used to extract the styrene from water, which is determined to have good linearity (correlation coefficient r = 0.9999 for 1.00-100.00 microg/L range), a relative standard deviation of 1.9%, and a detection limit of 0.30 microg/L. This method is compared with a classical headspace GC method.     

Development of water-phase derivatization followed by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for fast determination of valproic acid in human plasma

In this study, a simple, rapid, and sensitive method was developed and validated for the quantification of valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic drug, in human plasma, which was based on water-phase derivatization followed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In the proposed method, VPA in plasma was rapidly derivatized with a mixture of isobutyl chloroformate, ethanol and pyridine under mild conditions (room temperature, aqueous medium), and the VPA ethyl ester formed was headspace-extracted and simultaneously concentrated using the SPME technique. Finally, the analyte extracted on SPME fiber was analyzed by GC/MS. The experimental parameters and method validations were studied. The optimal conditions were obtained: PDMS fiber, stirring rate of 1100 rpm, sample temperature of 80 degrees C, extraction time of 20 min, NaCl concentration of 30%. The proposed method had a limit of quantification (0.3 microg/mL), good recovery (89-97%) and precision (RSD value less than 10%). Because the proposed method combined a rapid water-phase derivatization with a fast, simple and solvent-free sample extraction and concentration technique of SPME, the sample preparation time was less than 25 min. This much shortens the whole analysis time of VPA in plasma. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze VPA in human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic studies. All these results show that water-phase derivatization followed by HS-SPME and GC/MS is an alternative and powerful method for fast determination of VPA in biological fluids.     

Gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric methodology using solid-phase microextraction for the multiresidue determination of pesticides in surface waters

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) was used for the analytical determination of priority pesticide residues. Fibers coated with a 65-µm film thickness of polydimethylsiloxane divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB) were used to extract 31 pesticides of different chemical groups. The quality parameters of the method demonstrated a good precision with detection limits of 1–56?ng/L. Linearity was controlled in the range of 0.1–50?µg/L. The proposed method was applied for the trace-level determination of the target pesticides in surface water samples including three rivers and one lake at the Epirus region (north-west Greece) for a period of one year. The results demonstrate the suitability of the SPME–GC–MS approach for the analysis of multi-residue pesticides in environmental water samples.     

Selected ion storage versus tandem MS/MS for organochlorine pesticides determination in drinking waters with SPME and GC-MS

The use of two modes for mass spectrometry (MS) detection with an ion trap instrument, selected ion storage (SIS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), are compared for the solid-phase microextraction (SPME)–gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) determination of 16 priority organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in drinking water samples at the ultratrace levels (ng?L^?1) required by official guidelines in the European legislation. Experimental parameters investigated for the SPME sample preparation were: the type of coating (100?µm polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS, and 65?µm poly(dimethylsiloxane)–divinylbenzene, PDMS/DVB), SPME modality, extraction and desorption times and desorption temperature and the methanol percentage in the SPME working solution. Under the calculated optimal conditions two methodologies were developed, one for SIS and the other for MS/MS modes. The detection limits, precision and accuracy were evaluated for both alternatives and were appropriate to the official guidelines requirements. The SPME–GC-MS(SIS) methodology offered LODs from 0.2–6.6?ng?L^?1, precision below 13% and recoveries between 83 and 110%. The SPME–GC–MS/MS methodology provided limits of detection (LODs) ranging from 0.3 to 7.6 ng?L^?1, % RSD were ≤14% and recoveries of 79–108% were achieved. After the results observed within an Interlaboratory Exercise, the latest MS methodology was selected for the pursued analysis in real drinking water samples. Also, the good results in this round-robin exercise validate the proposed SPME–GC–MS/MS methodology.     

An improved method for cyanide determination in blood using solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A new method is described for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of cyanide, a very short-acting and powerful toxic agent, in human whole blood. It involves the conversion of cyanide into hydrogen cyanide and its subsequent headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and detection by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Optimizing the conditions for the GC/MS (type of column, injection conditions, temperature program) and SPME (choice of SPME fiber, effect of salts, adsorption and desorption times, adsorption temperature) led to the choice of a 75-microm carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane SPME fiber, with D3-acetonitrile as internal standard, and a capillary GC column with a polar stationary phase. Method validation was carried out in terms of linearity, precision and accuracy in both aqueous solutions and blood. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were determined only in aqueous solutions. The assay is linear over three orders of magnitude (water 0.01-10, blood 0.05-10 microg/mL); and the LOD and LOQ in water were 0.006 and 0.01 microg/mL, respectively. Good intra- and inter-assay precision was obtained, always <8%. The method is simple, fast and sensitive enough for the rapid diagnosis of cyanide intoxication in clinical and forensic toxicology.     

Determination of organotin compounds in-water by headspace solid phase microextraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This investigation evaluates headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine trace levels of organotins in water. The organotins were derivatized in situ with sodium tetraethylborate and adsorbed on a poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS)-coated fused silica fiber. The SPME experimental procedures to extract organotins in water were at pH 5, with extraction and derivatization simultaneously at 45 degrees C for 30 min in a 2% sodium tetraethylborate solution and a sample solution volume in the ratio of 1:1, and desorption in the splitless injection port of the GC at 260 degrees C for 2 min. Detection limits are determined to be in the low ng/L range. According to the analysis, the linearity range is from 10 to 10,000 ng/L with R.S.D. values below 12% except triphenyltin (24%). The proposed method was tested by analyzing surface seawater from the harbors on the Taiwanese coast for organotins residues. Some organotins studied were detected in the analyzed samples. Results of this study demonstrate the adequacy of the headspace SPME-GC-MS method for analyzing organotins in sea water samples.     

An improved headspace solid-phase microextraction method for the analysis of free-base nicotine in particulate phase of mainstream cigarette smoke

The content of free-base nicotine in cigarette smoke is a controversial subject, partly due to methodological issues. In this investigation, an improved method to measure free-base nicotine in cigarette smoke using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with GC/MS analysis, was developed and validated for this purpose. Cigarette smoke particulate phase (PP) was collected onto a 44 mm glass fiber filter pad. The pad was cut in halves with one half used to determine the concentrations of total nicotine and water. The remaining half was analyzed by HS-SPME for free-base nicotine. The following factors were found to have a significant impact on the responses of free-base nicotine: SPME fiber type, pre-equilibrium time before HS-SPME, extraction time and temperature, PP water content, and the solvent used for the preparation of standards. It was also found that the impact of PP water content on the determination of free-base nicotine from smoke sample could be corrected by a water correction factor calculated based on an experimentally determined reciprocal model. The precision of the method was evaluated with smoke samples of reference cigarettes: Canadian flue-cured monitor and Kentucky reference 2R4F. The RSD values obtained were in the 12.8-16.8% range.     

Study on a novel circulating cooling solid-phase microextraction method

A novel solid-phase microextraction (SPME) setup, circulating cooling solid-phase microextraction (CC-SPME), is developed for determining organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in water. The linearity area of this method is 0.5-120 microg/l, its RSD value is less than 10% and detection limit is in the low ng/l when it is used to detect gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, which is better than traditional headspace SPME (HS-SPME) and direct immersion SPME (DI-SPME) methods. The influence of factors such as pH, ionic intensity, adsorption time, and adsorption temperature were also investigated, respectively.     

Speciation of inorganic and tetramethyltin by headspace solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) method coupled to GC‐MS was developed in order to determine trace levels of tetramethyltin (TeMT) and inorganic tin (iSn) after ethylation to tetraethyltin (TeET) in various matrices. The derivatization of iSn and the extraction of both TeMT and iSn as TeET were performed in one step. Sodium tetraethylborate (NaBEt₄) was used as derivatization agent and the volatile derivatives were absorbed on a PDMS‐coated fused silica fiber. The conditions for the HS‐SPME procedure were optimized in order to gain in repeatability and sensitivity. Several critical parameters of GC‐MS were also studied. The detection of TeMT and iSn as TeET peaks was performed by the SIM mode. The precision of the proposed method is satisfactory providing RSD values below 10% for both tin species and good linearity up to 10 μg/L. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of tin species in several samples like canned fish, fish tissues, aquatic plants, canned mineral water and sea water. The proposed HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS method was proved suitable to monitor the concentration levels of toxic tin compounds in environmental and biological samples.     

Screening for sarin in air and water by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A method of screening air and water samples for the chemical-warfare agent Sarin is developed using solid-phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS). The SPME field kit sampler is ideal for collecting air and water samples in the field and transporting samples safely to the laboratory. The sampler also allows the sample to be introduced into the GC-MS system without further sample preparation. Results of the tests with Sarin using the SPME technique indicate that a sample collection time of 5 min is sufficient to detect 100 ng/L of Sarin in air. For water samples, Sarin is detected at a concentration of 12 microg/mL or higher. This method is ideal for screening samples for quick response situations.     

Determination of pyrethroid,organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides in water by headspace solid-phase microextraction

Simultaneous determination of pyrethroid, organophosphate (OP) and organochlorine (OC) pesticides in water was achieved with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The parameters affecting HS-SPME of pesticides from water were optimized, including extraction temperature, sample and headspace volumes, and sodium chloride amounts. The effects of desorption temperature, desorption time, and position of the fibre in the GC inlet were also investigated. Extraction temperature was the most important factor affecting the recoveries of analytes, and the optimized temperature was 96°C. The addition of salt did not increase extraction efficiencies of the pesticides from the water. The optimized desorption conditions in the GC were as follows: desorption time of 10?min; desorption temperature of 260°C; and a 2?cm position of the fibre in the inlet. The method detection limits were in the low-ng/L level with a linearity range of 50–1000?ng/L for the OCs, 50–5000?ng/L for the OP, and 50–20?000?ng/L for the pyrethroids. These data demonstrated that HS-SPME is a sensitive method for the determination of pyrethroid, OC, and OP pesticides in water.     

Detection of perfluorocarbons in blood by headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A new method of detection of perfluorocarbon molecules (PFCs) in blood sample has been established. After an extraction and pre-concentration step performed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), the PFCs are detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with an ion trap mass spectrometer in MS and MS/MS modes. The influence of different parameters on the SPME process is discussed. The limit of detection and the linearity of the procedure have been determined for two PFCs.     

固相微萃取-气相色谱/质谱法测定果汁及茶饮料中的10种光引发剂

建立了用固相微萃取结合气相色谱/质谱（GC/MS）检测13种果汁饮料和3种茶饮料中10种光引发剂的方法。通过正交试验筛选对萃取过程影响较大的因素,再通过单因素试验进一步优化,确定最佳的操作条件。样品经萃取后,在GC/MS进样口解吸3 min,经HP-5MS色谱柱分离,以选择离子方式监测,外标法定量。为消除基质的干扰,以样品基质加标做工作曲线,线性范围为0.3~60 μg/L,检出限为3~16 ng/L。分别对4个不同加标水平的样品平行测定5次,相对标准偏差均小于14.5%。对不同品牌、不同种类的16种盒装饮料进行了测定,所有样品中全部检出二苯甲酮,部分样品中检出对二甲氨基苯甲酸异辛酯、2-异丙基硫杂蒽酮、4-甲基二苯甲酮、1-羟基环己基苯基甲酮、2-氯噻吨酮。该方法操作简单、灵敏度高、无污染,可对10种光引发剂同时测定。该研究结果为从包装材料迁移至饮料中的光引发剂的测定提供了参考。     

Multiple headspace solid-phase microextraction for eliminating matrix effect in the simultaneous determination of haloanisoles and volatile phenols in wines

This paper proposes a multiple headspace solid-phase microextraction (MHS-SPME) method coupled to gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection (GC/MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, 2,3,4,6-tetrachloroanisole, pentachloroanisole, 2,4,6-tribromoanisole, 4-ethylphenol, 4-ethylguaiacol, 4-vinylphenol and 4-vinylguaiacol in wines. These compounds are involved in the presence of "cork taint" and Brett character in wines. The MHS-SPME method is a modification of SPME developed for quantitative analysis that avoids possible matrix effects based on an exhaustive analyte extraction from the sample. After demonstrating the existence of matrix effect in the analysis of the target compounds by HS-SPME with a divinylbenzene/Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) fibre, the MHS-SPME method was developed and validated. The proposed method showed satisfactory linearity, precision and detection limits, all below the odour detection thresholds of the compounds in wine matrices. Good recoveries were observed for all compounds, always above 90%, and the repeatability obtained was considered acceptable, ranging between 2 and 11%. After checking the applicability of the method by comparing the results recorded with those obtained with the standard addition method, the method was applied successfully to the analysis of wine samples. To our knowledge, this is the first time that MHS-SPME combined with GC/MS/MS has been applied to simultaneously determine haloanisoles and volatile phenols in wine.     

Effect of sample matrix on sensitivity of mercury and methylmercury quantitation in human urine,saliva, and serum using GC‐MS

A rapid and sensitive method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of monomethylmercury (MMHg) and inorganic mercury (iHg) in human body fluids. The procedure is based on in situ derivatization of MMHg and iHg with sodium tetraethylborate (NaBEt₄) directly in aqueous solutions followed by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS‐SPME). The extracted species from spiked human urine, saliva, and serum are separated by capillary gas chromatography and detected by quadrupole MS (GC‐MS). The optimization of the HS‐SPME conditions like temperature, sample volume, extraction duration, and amount of alkylation agent, was performed in urinary solutions and aqueous solutions similarly buffered. The gas chromatographic conditions like injection temperature, helium flow rate, temperature program, and pressure conditions were also optimized. The recovery was ranged between 85 and 96% for MMHg and 88 and 98% for iHg. The LODs achieved were 10 and 15 ng/L for iHg and MMHg in urine, respectively, 54 and 60 ng/L for iHg and MMHg in saliva, respectively, and 61 and 81 ng/L for iHg and MMHg in serum, respectively. The RSD was ranged between 6.2 and 9.2% for MMHg and 5.0 and 8.2% for iHg.     

Simultaneous determination of cyanogen chloride and cyanogen bromide in treated water at sub-microg/L levels by a new solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic-electron-capture detection method

A headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) procedure has been developed and applied for the determination of cyanogen halides in treated water samples at microg/L concentrations. Several SPME coatings were tested, the divinylbenzene-Carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane fiber being the most appropriate coating. GC-electron-capture detection was used for separation and quantitation. Experimental parameters such as sample volume, addition of a salt, extraction time and desorption conditions were studied. The optimized method has an acceptable linearity, good precision, with RSD values <10% for both compounds, and it is sufficiently sensitive to detect ng/L levels. HS-SPME was compared with liquid-liquid microextraction (US Environmental Protection Agency Method 551.1) for the analysis of spiked ultrapure and granular activated carbon filtered water samples. There was good agreement between the results from both methods. Finally, the optimized procedure was applied to determine both compounds at the Barcelona water treatment plant (N.E. Spain). Cyanogen chloride in treated water was <1.0 microg/L and cyanogen bromide ranged from 3.2 to 6.4 microg/L.