Analysis of phenolic compounds in the dissolved and suspended phases of Lake Balaton water by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

As a novel approach to characterize the phenolic pollutants of Lake Balaton (Central Europe, western Hungary), 26 endocrine disrupting phenols (chlorophenols, nitrophenols, alkylphenols, triclosan, bisphenol-A) were quantified in dissolved and suspended particulate matter (SPM) phases, alike. Sample collection was performed in the western and eastern basins, at 20 sites in April and October 2014. Solid-phase and ultrasound-assisted extractions to withdraw target phenols from dissolved and suspended phases were employed. Compounds were derivatized with hexamethyldisilazane and trifluoroacetic acid for their quantification as trimethylsilyl derivatives by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In Lake Balaton's dissolved phase, 2-chlorophenol (103-164 ng/L), 4-chlorophenol (407-888 ng/L), 2,4-dichlorophenol (20.2-72.0 ng/L), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (10.4-38.1 ng/L), 2-nitrophenol (31.0-66.5 ng/L), 4-nitrophenol (31.5-94.1 ng/L), and bisphenol-A (20.6-112 ng/L), while in its SPM, 4-chlorophenol (

Quantitation of various indolinyl caged glutamates as their o-phthalaldehyde derivatives by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem spectroscopic detections: derivatization, stoichiometry and stability studies.

Quantification, stability and unique spectroscopic properties of indolinyl-caged glutamates (ICGs), with the o-phthalaldehyde-3-mercaptopropionic acid (OPA-MPA) reagent, were described, at first. As new principle to the field, reactivity and stoichiometry of variously substituted OPA-MPA derivatized ICGs, such as 4-methoxy-7-nitroindolinyl-(MNI-Glu), 4-methoxy-5,7-dinitroindolinyl-(DNI-Glu), 2-dimethylamino-propoxy and dimethylamino-isobutoxy alternatives (2DMA-1PO-DNI-Glu, 1DMA-2P-DNI-Glu and 3DMA-1iBU-DNI-Glu), was demonstrated. Derivatives' stability was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) applying simultaneous photodiode array (DAD) and fluorescence (Fl) detections, while their structural identity was confirmed by HPLC-time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF-MS). The SH-additive of the reagents was also varied. ICGs react unequivocally, with one OPA-SH-group molecule, in the molar ratios of ([OPA-SH-additive]/[ICG]=1/1, resulting in species with the characteristic isoindole spectral property (EEx/EEm=337/454nm; λmax=337nm). ICGs' isoindole derivatives, due to their sandwich structure, are manifesting the π-π-stacking phenomenon: they fail to show fluorescence. ICGs' stability decreased in the order of MNI-Glu, 2DMA-1PO/1DMA-2PO, 3DMA-1iBU and DNI-Glu, correspondingly, resulting in increasing order of free glutamic acid (GA), as their decomposition product. GA and ICGs were determined as their OPA/MPA derivatives while uncaged species (MNI, DNI and its substituted alternatives) in their initial forms. The practical utility of the method was confirmed analyzing ICGs and their decomposition products, simultaneously. Quantifications' reliability and reproducibility were characterized with the relative standard deviation percentages of responses (RSDs%): for GA 0.41-12 RSD% for ICGs 0.057-7.0 RSD% were obtained. Stability properties of variously substituted, recently introduced ICGs, prepared in laboratories of Institute of Experimental Medicine, were defined.

Systematic derivatization, mass fragmentation and acquisition studies in the analysis of chlorophenols, as their silyl derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

An exhaustive GC-MS sample preparation, derivatization, mass fragmentation and acquisition study was performed, for the simultaneous analysis of chlorophenols (CPs). Selected species were 2-CP, 3-CP, 4-CP, 3,5-dichlorophenol (diCP), 2,5-diCP, 2,6-diCP, 2,4-diCP, 2,3-diCP, 3,4-diCP 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (triCP), 2,4,5-triCP, 2,3,4-triCP, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol (tetraCP) and pentachlorophenol (pentaCP), in total 14 compounds. As novelties to the field, basic researches, like systematic derivatization, mass fragmentation and acquisition methods have been optimized for the trimethylsilyl (TMS) ether derivatives of CPs. The reactivity of chlorophenols with silylating agents has not been systematically analyzed. Here, we studied the reactivity of 14 chlorophenols with five silylating reagents. The three acquisition techniques, the full scan (FS), the multiple ion monitoring (MIM), and the currently optimized multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) methods, have been compared. We developed a new analytical approach, simultaneously monitoring the fragmentation pattern of the (35)Cl and the (37)Cl containing fragment ions both as precursor and as product ions. This principle resulted in remarkable specificity and sensitivity of detection and quantification; particularly in the cases of the tetraCP and pentaCP derivatives containing the (35)Cl and the (37)Cl fragment ions at an approximate ratio of <1:1. Detailed documentation of the loss of HCl via fragmentation processes, without decomposition of the benzene ring, was attributed to the "ring-walk" mechanism described first for monochlorophenol. Critical evaluation of the derivatization and acquisition protocols was collated and validated with the same characteristics. Data of six point calibration along with the corresponding relative standard deviation percentage (RSD%) values, in the line of FS, MIM and MRM methods (r(2): 0.9987, 0.9992, 0.9989; RSD%: 8.7, 5.6, 8.1), proved to be independent on the acquisition processes. The practical utility of the optimized MRM acquisition techniques was confirmed by the quantitation of the CP contents of Danube River, tap water and distilled water samples. Results confirmed at the first time the primary importance of the MRM acquisition method, even in comparison to the MIM one: we revealed that distilled water contains higher chlorophenol content than tap water, which might have a great significance for the water industry.

The role of harmonized, gas and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry in the discovery of the neolignan balanophonin in the fruit wall of Cirsium vulgare.

In order to identify and quantify fruit-lignans of Cirsium vulgare - authors introduced a special analysis system: with particular attention to the lignans enrichment/separation course. These synchronized, germination and enzymatic hydrolysis processes were followed by complementary gas and liquid chromatography, coupled with special mass selective detections (GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, LC-TOF/MS) and confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Mass fragmentations and NMR evidences, proved that the two main medicinal lignan constituents of the fruits of Cirsium vulgare are the neolignan-type, free balanophonin and the butyrolactone-type tracheloside. As novelty to the field, these two lignans of different chemical structures could be quantitatively extracted, separately from each others, without impurities. Balanophonin and tracheloside do accumulate in the fruits of C. vulgare, separately: balanophonin was found, in enormous high concentrations, in the fruit wall (23.2-24.9 mg/g), while in embryo part tracheloside was determined (20.3mg/g), exclusively. Consequently, the optimum source of balanophonin proved to be the fruit wall, while tracheloside, - providing trachelogenin upon enzymatic hydrolysis, - could be obtained from the embryo parts of fruits. As further novelties of the study balanophonin was identified and quantified at the first time with on-line chromatographic technique, in free form, without authentic standard compound.

The role of the acquisition methods in the analysis of natural and synthetic steroids and cholic acids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

An exhaustive GC-MS acquisition study was performed, for the simultaneous analysis of natural and synthetic steroids and cholic acids (in order to insert them into the last tierce of our multiresidue analysis system), such as androsterone, ß-estradiol, transdehydroandro-sterone, transdehyroandrosterone, mestranol, dihydrotestosterone, ethinylestradiol, testosterone, norethisterone, estriol, 4-androstene-3,17-dione, gestodene, levonorgestrel, etonogestrel, coprostanol, progesterone, cholesterol, medroxyprogesterone-acetate, lithocholic acid, stigmasterol, cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, ß-sitosterol, ursodeoxycholic acid, 3-hydroxy-7-ketocholic acid and dehydrocholic acid, in total 26 compounds. As novelties to the field, for the trimethylsilyl (TMS) oxime ether/ester derivatives of steroids and cholic acids, at first, a tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS), multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) type acquisition method has been developed in a single run; also for the first time, the three acquisition techniques, the full scan (FS), the selective ion monitoring (SIM), in our case the multiple ion monitoring (MIM) and the currently optimized MRM methods, have been compared; all three, in parallel, under strictly the same derivatization/instrumental conditions, both in matrix free solutions and municipal wastewater from two Hungarian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Critical evaluation of the three acquisition protocols was collated on their analytical performances and validated under the same conditions. The data of six point calibration curves for FS, MIM and MRM methods, showed that both R² (0.9995, 0.9858, 0.9975) and RSD (5.3, 5.8, 5.0), for two parallel derivatizations, each injected three times, proved to be independent of the acquisition processes. Whereas, for the method limit of quantification (LOQ) and the instrument limit of quantification (ILQ) values showed considerable differences. LOQ data, were decreasing in the FS, MIM, MRM line (expressed in ng/L), for all steroids and cholic acids. The same trend was determined in terms of the ILQ values. The practical utility of the optimized acquisition techniques was confirmed by the quantitation of the steroids and cholic acids contents of wastewater samples. Results confirmed the importance of the MRM acquisition method, even in comparison to the MIM one: with particular interest in selected cases: avoiding the extreme overestimation of the ß-estradiol (156-1325%) and that of the ethinylestradiol (582-831%) concentrations in the wastewater samples.

Characteristic fragmentation patterns of trimethylsilyl and trimethylsilyl-oxime derivatives of plant disaccharides as obtained by gas chromatography coupled to ion-trap mass spectrometry.

The characteristic fragmentation pattern of six reducing and two non reducing type disaccharides-(neohesperidose, acuminose, sambubiose, rutinose, vicianose, primverose, and two arabinosyl-inositols) has been described. These saccharides have not been previously identified by on-line chromatographic techniques. Unambiguous specific characteristics of the TMS (oxime)s such as mass distribution, syn/anti oximes ratios and elution order proved to be associated with their reducing or non reducing character, with their aldosyl property and with the position of their O-glycosidic linkages. The practical utility of the mass fragmentation study of these rare disaccharides was demonstrated, at the first time, by the simultaneous, on-line identification and quantification of the acuminose, vicianose, primverose and arabinosyl-inositol contents of tea leaves, from green and black tea blends of Indian and Chinese origin.

Derivatization and fragmentation pattern analysis of natural and synthetic steroids, as their trimethylsilyl (oxime) ether derivatives by gas chromatography mass spectrometry: analysis of dissolved steroids in wastewater samples.

This paper reports the extension of our multiresidue analysis (MA) procedure with 18 natural and synthetic steroids; permitting the identification and quantification, in total of 81 pollutants from one solution, by a single injection, as their trimethylsilyl (TMS)-oxime ether/ester derivatives, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), within 31 min. As a novelty to the field, basic researches, such as fragmentation pattern analysis and derivatization optimization studies were performed for androsterone, transdehydroandrosterone, transandrosterone, mestranol, dihydrotestosterone, ethinylestradiol, testosterone, norethisterone, estriol, 4-androstene-3,17-dione, gestodene, levonorgestrel, etonogestrel, coprostanol, progesterone, cholesterol, medroxy-progesterone-acetate, stigmasterol and ß-sitosterol. Results confirmed that (i) the TMS oxime-ether derivatives of the keto steroids provide from 1.40 times (gestodene) up to 4.25 times (norethisterone) higher responses compared to their TMS-ether ones, and (ii) the distribution of syn/anti oximes is characteristic to the ketosteroid species examined. Based on our optimized mass fragmentation, solid phase extraction (SPE) and derivatization studies separations have been performed in the total ion current (TIC) mode, identification and quantification of compounds have been carried out on the basis of their selective fragment ions. Responses, obtained with derivatized standards proved to be linear (hydroxysteroids), or have been calculated from calibration curves (ketosteroids) in the range of 1.88-750ng/L levels. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) values varied between 1.88ng/L and 37.5ng/L concentrations. The most important practical messages of this work are the high androsterone (0.744-4.28µg/L), transandrosterone (0.138-4.00µg/L), coprostanol (2.11-302µg/L), cholesterol (0.308-41µg/L), stigmasterol (1.21-8.40µg/L) and ß-sitosterol (1.12-11.0µg/L) contents of influent wastewaters. ß-Estradiol (100ng/L) and estriol (54ng/L) were found in one influent sample, only. Reproducibilities, characterized with the relative standard deviation percentages (RSD%) of measurements, varied between 1.73 RSD% (ß-estradiol) and 5.4 RSD% (stigmasterol), with an average of 4.82 RSD%.

Complementary fragmentation pattern analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry confirmed the precious lignan content of Cirsium weeds.

In this paper, as novelties to the field, it is confirmed at first, that the fruits of Cirsium species, regarded as injurious weeds, do contain lignans, two, different butyrolactone-type glycoside/aglycone pairs: the well known arctiin/arctigenin and the particularly rare tracheloside/trachelogenin species. These experiences were supported by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/(MS)) and by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The study reflects the powerful impact of the complementary chromatographic mass fragmentation evidences resulting in the identification and quantification, the extremely rare, with on line technique not yet identified and described, tracheloside/trachelogenin pair lignans, without authentic standard compounds. Fragmentation pattern analysis of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative of trachelogenin, based on GC-MS, via two different fragmentation pathways confirmed the detailed structure of the trachelogenin molecule. The complementary chromatographic evidences have been unambiguously confirmed, by (1)H and (13)C NMR analysis of trachelogenin, isolated by preparative chromatography. Identification and quantification of the fruit extracts of four Cirsium (C.) species (C. arvense, C. canum, C. oleraceum, and C. palustre), revealed that (i) all four species do accumulate the tracheloside/trachelogenin or the arctiin/arctigenin butyrolactone-type glycoside/aglycone pairs, (ii) the overwhelming part of lignans are present as glycosides (tracheloside 9.1-14.5 mg/g, arctiin 28.6-39.3 mg/g, expressed on dry fruit basis), (iii) their acidic and enzymatic hydrolyses to the corresponding aglycones, to trachelogenin and arctigenin are fast and quantitative and (iv) the many-sided beneficial trachelogenin and arctigenin can be prepared separately, without impurities, excellent for medicinal purposes.

The role of the acquisition methods in the analysis of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Danube River by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

In this paper authors describe a GC-MS acquisition study, relating to the most common, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen and diclofenac. As novelties to the field, for the trimethylsilyl (TMS) oxime ester derivatives of NSAIDs, at first, a tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) acquisition method has been developed, and, also for the first time, the three acquisition techniques, the full scan (FS), the selective ion monitoring (SIM) and the currently optimized MS/MS ones, have been compared: all three in parallel, under strictly the same derivatization/instrumental conditions, both from model solutions and from the Danube River samples. Critical evaluation of the three acquisition protocols was collated on their analytical performances and validated with the same characteristics like the six point calibration curve, the relative standard deviation percentages (RSD%) of parallel tests, the limit of quantitation (LOQ) and the instrumental limit of quantitation (ILQ) values. Data of six point calibration (r(2)>or=0.997) and RSD% (average: 5.8 RSD%) values proved to be independent on the acquisition methods, while, LOQ and ILQ values furnished considerable differences. Decreasing LOQ data, (expressed in ng/L concentrations) were obtained in the FS, SIM, MS/MS line for ibuprofen (1.0, 0.43, 0.41), naproxen (1.1, 1.0, 0.42), ketoprofen (2.6, 1.0, 0.49) and diclofenac (1.4, 0.41, 0.21), respectively. The same trend was determined in terms of the ILQ values. The practical utility of the optimized MS/MS technique was confirmed by the quantitation of the NSAID contents of the Danube River samples, determined by all three acquisition techniques. Results obtained confirmed the primary importance of the MS/MS acquisition method, even in comparison to the SIM one: avoiding the extreme overestimation of the ibuprofen (approximately 100%) and ketoprofen (approximately 400%) concentrations in the Danube River samples.

Mass fragmentation study of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of arctiin, matairesinoside, arctigenin, phylligenin, matairesinol, pinoresinol and methylarctigenin: their gas and liquid chromatographic analysis in plant extracts.

The mass fragmentation patterns and the characteristic behavior of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of the dibenzylbutyrolactone-type (arctiin, arctigenin, methylarctigenin, matairesinoside, matairesinol) and those of the diphenylperhydrofurotetrahydrofurane-type (phylligenin, pinoresinol) lignans, obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), were presented. It was shown that upon acidic hydrolysis the dibenzylbutyrolactone-type lignans are stable while the diphenylperhydrofurotetrahydrofurane-type ones decompose. As a novelty to the field we confirmed that the fragment species of the derivatized lignan glycosides, in the presence of excess hexamethyldisilazane, leaded to their in situ derivatization. Quantification of the selective fragment ions of the TMS derivatives by GC-MS, in respect of the ions found one by one, and concerning the selective fragment ions {SFI(s)} in total, provided acceptable reproducibilities, suitable for quantitation purposes: varying between 1.20% and 6.6% relative standard deviation percentages (RSD%). For characterization of the behavior of various type of lignans, analyses were performed with the untreated and with the trifluoroacetic acid hydrolyzed plant extracts, from the same sample, in parallel, both by GC-MS and by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, working in the positive electron ionization mode (HPLC-ESPI-MS). The analysis of lignans in fruit and leaf extracts (obtained from the Arctium, Centaurea and Forsythia plants) was confirmed both by GC-MS and by HPLC-ESPI-MS. Our multicomponent system (including the identification and quantification of sugars, sugar alcohols, and several members of various homologous series of acids, anthraquinones and flavonoids) has been extended to the analysis of lignan glycosides and to the free lignans. Reproducibilities in the quantitation of lignans in plant matrices, as averages on GC and HPLC basis, varied between 0.9% and 11% (RSD). The distribution of the lignan constituents was presented for 5 Arctium, for 8 Centaurea and for 4 Forsythia plant extracts: the total of lignan contents varied between 0.42 and 87.9 mg/g, respectively.

Quantitation of amino acids in plasma by high performance liquid chromatography: simultaneous deproteinization and derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride.

This paper, as a novelty to this field, presents the deproteinization and derivatization of plasma's free amino acids (PFAAs), simultaneously, in a single step, with the acetonitrile (ACN) containing 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride (FMOC) reagent. Deproteinization and derivatization, were studied with 22 amino acids, applying photodiode array (DAD) and fluorescence (FL) detection, simultaneously. Model investigations have been carried out as a function of the FMOC concentration, reaction time and reaction conditions: with standard solutions, with human plasma samples in its initial condition and fortified with standard amino acids (excluding tryptophan because it co-elutes with the hydrolyzed FMOC). Reproducibilities of 22 amino acids, including both histidine and tyrosine derivatives, obtained under optimum derivatization conditions are presented (at 3.0 mM FMOC concentration, at pH 9; derivatization time - 20 min), and characterized with the relative standard deviation percentages of their responses (

Multiresidue analysis of pollutants as their trimethylsilyl derivatives, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

This paper reports a multiresidue analysis procedure which permits the identification and quantification of sixty-three water-soluble pollutants. Subsequent to their solid-phase extraction (SPE) enrichment, analyses of species have been carried out from one solution, by a single injection, as their trimethylsilyl-oxime ether/ester derivatives, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, within 31min. Based on our optimized extraction, derivatization and mass fragmentation studies separation have been performed in the total ion current mode, identification and quantification of compounds have been carried out on the basis of their selective fragment ions. Including various pharmaceuticals, benzoic acid, its substituted species, different aromatic carboxylic acids, cholic acids, unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, as well as synthetic pollutants of various origins (2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, different phthalates). Standard compounds were added to 500 mL effluent wastewater samples, at three concentrations (1-5 microg/L, 5-10 microg/L and 10-20 microg/L). Recoveries, using the Waters Oasis cartridges performing extractions at pH 2, pH 4 and pH 7 proved to be the optimum at pH 4 (average recoveries (94.5%), except for cholesterol (10%), paracetamol (18%) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (25%). Carbamazepine could be recovered at pH 7, only. Responses, obtained with derivatized standards proved to be linear in the range of 4-80 microg/L levels. Limit of quantitation values varied between 0.92 ng/L (4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) and 600 ng/L (dehydrocholic acid) concentrations. One of the most important messages of this work is the confirmation of the origin of blank values. It was shown that contaminants, mainly 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, different phthalates and fatty acids, are sourced both from the reagents and mainly from the SPE procedure, independent on the cartridge applied. Reproducibilities, characterized with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of measurements, varied between 0.71% and 10%, with an average of 4.38% RSD. The practical utility of the method was shown by the identification and quantification of the pollutant contents of Hungarian influent and effluent wastewaters (for six consecutive months and that of the Danube River for 2 months).

Amino acid analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography after derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride Literature overview and further study.

A literature overview is given of HPLC methods currently in use to determine amino acids as their 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (FMOC) derivatives. On the basis of the detailed literature overview an exhaustive derivatization study was performed with 22 amino acids, applying photodiode array (DAD) and fluorescence (FL) detection simultaneously, in order to clear up the controversial points of FMOC derivatization. Model investigations have been carried out as a function of the reaction time and reaction conditions, such as the molar concentration of the reagent, the molar ratios of the reactants, the pH and the solvent composition of the reaction medium. Special emphasis was put (i) on the evaluation of the blank values of the reagents, as a function of the composition and that of the pH of the reaction medium, (ii) on the unambiguous quantitation of all amino acids, including the less reactive aspartic and glutamic acids, as well as on the formation and transformation of histidine and tyrosine, existing partly, as single (N-FMOC-histidine, N-FMOC-tyrosine), partly as double labeled species (N,NH-FMOC-histidine, N,O-FMOC-tyrosine). Reproducibilities of 22 amino acids, including both histidine and tyrosine derivatives, obtained under optimum derivatization conditions are presented (at 0.5mM FMOC concentration corresponding to the molar ratios of [FMOC]/[amino acids](T)=5.5/1 (note: the superscript 'T' means the total of amino acids), with acetonitrile containing reagents, at pH 9, derivatization time=20 min), and characterized with the relative standard deviation percentages of their responses (

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the trimethylsilyl (oxime) ether/ester derivatives of cholic acids: their presence in the aquatic environment.

This paper presents a derivatization, mass fragmentation study relating to the most common six cholic acids, such as cholic, lithocholic, chenodeoxycholic, ursodeoxycholic, 3-hydroxy,7-ketocholanic and dehydrocholic acids, identified and quantified as pollutants in the aquatic environment at the first time. Derivatizations have been performed with the two-step process (1: oximation, 2: silylation) varying the time and temperature of both reactions. Optimum responses have been obtained after 30 min oximation with hydroxylamine.HCl and 90 min silylation with hexamethyldisilazane and trifluoroacetic acid at 70 degrees C. Fragmentation patterns of the trimethylsilyl (oxime) ether/ester derivatives of all six cholic acids provided the theoretically expected, fully derivatized compounds. Reproducibility/linearity of derivatives calculated on the basis of the corresponding selective fragment ions, characterized by the relative standard deviation percentages of measurements, proved to be < or =4.9 (RSD%). The practical utility of the method was shown by the identification and quantification of cholic acids as pollutants in the aquatic environment. Subsequently to a solid phase extraction study varying the pH of extractions (pH 2, pH 4 and pH 7), applying the OASIS cartridges, it has been confirmed that the recoveries for all six cholic acids are acceptable, varying between 77% and 104%, and are independent on the pH. The total cholic acid content of a Hungarian wastewater plants' influent wastewater varied between 184 microg/L and 356 microg/L, while the Danube rivers' cholic acid content was 4.1 microg/L, only.

Simultaneous analysis of amino acids and amines as their o-phthalaldehyde-ethanethiol-9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate derivatives in cheese by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) with combined diode array and fluorescence detection of amino acids and amines in various cheese samples is described. The proposal is based on acidic deproteinization, derivatization and gradient optimization studies, resulting in the identification and quantification of 21 amino acids and 9 amines from a single solution, by one injection. The optimized, simple protocol consists of deproteinization (1M perchloric acid), centrifugation, filtration and the subsequent derivatization with the o-phthalaldehyde-ethanethiol-9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (OPA-ET-FMOC) reagent. The method can be characterized with a linearity of wide concentration range (6.25-1000 pM/injection), a good chromatographic reproducibility (average: 2.69% RSD) and an excellent recovery (average: 100.2%; average 3.84% RSD). The developed method was successfully applied in the determination of the amino acid and amine contents of port salut cheese, blue cheese and smoked cheese samples.

Identification and quantification of ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen and diclofenac present in waste-waters, as their trimethylsilyl derivatives, by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

This paper reports a derivatization, mass fragmentation study relating to the most common, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen and diclofenac, identified and quantified in the aquatic environment. Derivatizations have been performed with four silylation reagents in order to select the most proper one, taking into account analytical and financial points of view, equally. The tested reagents were N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA), N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA), N-methyl-N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) and for this purpose at the first time, hexamethyldisilazan (HMDS)+trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA). Varying derivatization time and temperature, taking into consideration chemical and financial advantages, HMDS+TFAA proved to be the optimum selection. Responses of derivatives have been compared, as a function of the ionization technique (external/internal ionization), as well as on the treatment of compounds' selective fragment ions (SFIs): (i) extracting the corresponding, characteristic m/z masses from TIC elutions and (ii) from SIM elutions, in parallel. Reproducibilities of measurements, expressed in relative standard deviation percentages (R.S.D.%), including the nanogram and the low picogram levels of injected derivatives, provided an average between 0.93 R.S.D.% and 4.11 R.S.D.%. NSAIDs' enrichment was performed with solid-phase extraction (SPE), applying the Oasis HLB (Waters) cartridges: recoveries in the 1-6 microg L(-1) range varied between 84% and 111%, with an average reproducibility of 6.4 R.S.D.%. The utility of the optimized derivatization method is presented, on monthly basis, by the identification and quantitation of the ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen and diclofenac content of the influent and effluent waste-water samples obtained from a Hungarian waste-water treatment plant.

Characteristic fragmentation patterns of the trimethylsilyl and trimethylsilyl-oxime derivatives of various saccharides as obtained by gas chromatography coupled to ion-trap mass spectrometry.

The fragmentation patterns of selected glycosidic linkage containing non-reducing (methylmannoside, methylgalactoside, lactitol, sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, erlose, melezitose) and reducing saccharides (maltose, cellobiose, lactose, melibiose, palatinose, primeverose, rutinose) have been compared as their trimethylsilyl and as their trimethylsilyl-oxime derivatives. Fragmentation characteristics of the glycosidic linkage containing trimethylsilyl-oxime derivatives have been investigated at the first time: these spectra are not available in the official libraries (NIST, Wiley). Applying gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry, informative fragments of high masses with high intensities have been obtained. Results confirmed characteristic differences between the simple trimethylsilyl derivative providing non-reducing glycosides and the trimethylsilyl, syn and antioxime species. Fragmentation starts at the glycosidic linkage resulting in the case of the non-reducing di- and trisaccharides in two, identical fragments of ring structure, with the abundant selective fragment ion at m/z=361. In the case of reducing disaccharides fragmentation provides two different moieties: one moiety of ring structure at m/z=361, and one of the open chain trimethylsilyl-oxime moiety with two special fragment ions at m/z=361 and at m/z=538. These fragmentation patterns proved to be independent on the position of the glycosidic linkage. Distribution of the selective fragment ions, obtained from their total ion current elutions, was evaluated on a quantitative basis, expressed in percentages of the total of ions formed. Reproducibility in the formation of these selective fragment ions, depending on their amount to be fragmented, proved to be proper for identification and quantitation purposes, equally. On this basis, in addition to the authentic ones, also two reducing disaccharides (primeverose and rutinose), as authentic compounds not available on the market, were identified and quantified in natural matrices.

Advances in the o-phthalaldehyde derivatizations. Comeback to the o-phthalaldehyde-ethanethiol reagent.

The main aims of this work were (a) to present the characteristics and stability of the o-phthalaldehyde (OPA)-ethanethiol (ET) derivatives of 22 amino acids, including the believed-to-be less stable OPA derivatives providing glycine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, beta-alanine, histidine, ornithine, lysine and the C(1)-C(5) aliphatic amines; (b) to compare the stability properties of the most common amino acids and amines as OPA-ET-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC) derivatives to the corresponding ones obtained from OPA reagents containing various (SH)-additives; (c) to show the molar responses of alanine and lysine depending on the OPA reagent's composition; as well as (d) to prove the practical utility of these basic researches, by the simultaneous HPLC separation of 22 amino acids and 15 amines as their OPA-ET-FMOC derivatives. Investigations have been carried out by varying the composition of the reagents, the molar ratios of reactants and the reaction time, applying diode array and fluorescence detections simultaneously. Average reproducibility of quantitations, characterized with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) based on the fluorescence intensities of derivatives, in the order of listing, proved to be 1.2-5.9% for amino acids and 1.1-8.7% for amines. The practical utility of the method is demonstrated by the analysis of the amino acid and amine contents of mouse tissues, with an average reproducibility of 3.5%.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric fragmentation study of flavonoids as their trimethylsilyl derivatives: analysis of flavonoids, sugars, carboxylic and amino acids in model systems and in citrus fruits.

The fragmentation patterns and quantitation possibilities of three anthocyanidins (pelargonidin, cyanidin, malvidin), one flavonol (quercetin), two flavones (apigenin, luteolin) and two flavanones (naringenin, hesperetin) have been investigated as trimethylsilyl and as trimethylsilyl (oxime) derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results proved that anthocyanidins and flavanones form trimethylsilyl (oximes), while flavonol and flavones provide simple trimethylsilyl derivatives. In all cases, characteristic fragments of high masses are formed proper for quantitation purposes. Hydrolysis conditions for naringin, hesperidin and rutin have been optimized, resulting in the quantitative release of naringenin, hesperetin and quercetin together with their corresponding saccharides. These basic studies made possible the identification and quantification of the flavonoid, carboxylic-/amino acid and sugar constituents of citrus fruit juices and albedos, without any extraction/enrichment procedure. In total 33 compounds have been determined in hydrolyzed samples, such as 2 flavonoids (naringenin and hesperetin), 6 phenolic acids (trimethoxybenzoic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, quinic, chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids), 3 aliphatic carboxylic acids (levulinic, malic, citric acids), phosphoric acid, 4 amino acids (aspartic, glutamic acids, alanine, proline), 9 monosaccharides (xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, fucose, fructose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid, sedoheptulose), inositol, sugarphosphate, 5 disaccharides and tocopherol. Measurements were carried out as the trimethylsilyl (oxime) ether/ester derivatives of constituents, in the concentration range of 2 x 10(-3) to 49.9%. Identification level of samples varied between 26.4 and 77.5%, expressed in dry matter content of juices and albedos.

Analysis of amino acids and biogenic amines in biological tissues as their o-phthalaldehyde/ethanethiol/fluorenylmethyl chloroformate derivatives by high-performance liquid chromatography. A deproteinization study.

The extraction of ornithine, lysine, putrescine, cadaverine, 1,7-diaminoheptane, spermidine and spermine from biological tissues was optimized for HPLC quantitation as their o-phthalaldehyde/ethanethiol/fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (OPA/ET/FMOC) derivatives. In applying perchloric acid deproteinization two approaches have been followed: (i) deproteinization with subsequent neutralization by potassium hydroxide and lyophilization, and (ii) deproteinization without neutralization and lyophilization. Neutralization and lyophilization resulted in the loss of free biogenic amines. HPLC analysis of ornithine (Orn), lysine (Lys), putrescine (Put), cadaverine (Cad), 1,7-diaminoheptane (Dah), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) content of biological tissues as their OPA/ET/FMOC derivatives was performed in the supernatant of perchloric acid-deproteinized samples (model solutions and tissues) with an average reproducibility of < or =2.6% relative standard deviation (RSD), including recovery of sample treatment and chromatography.