Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Compounds; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis; Ion traps; Multiple reaction monitoring; Non-polar; Peaks areas; Polycyclic aromatic compounds; Selective detection; Sensitive detection; Tandem mass spectrometry; Tandem-mass spectrometry; Triple quadrupole; Analytical Chemistry; Spectroscopy; Organic Chemistry
Abstract :
[en] [en] RATIONALE: Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) is a sensitive and selective detection mode for target trace-level analysis. However, it requires the fragmentation of labile bonds which are not present in molecules such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their heterocyclic derivatives (PANHs, PASHs).
METHODS: We present the application of an alternative tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) mode called "pseudo-MRM" for the GCMS/MS analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs). This mode is based on the monitoring of transitions with no mass loss between the precursor and the product ion. Pseudo-MRM peak areas were compared with those of classic MRM on three different mass spectrometers: two triple quadrupoles and an ion trap.
RESULTS: For all non-polar PACs studied here (PAHs, PANHs and PASHs), the pseudo-MRM transition was always the most intense. The classic MRM transitions exhibited peak areas 2 to 5 times lower. On the contrary, for the functionalized PACs (oxygenated and nitrated PAHs), classic MRM was favored over pseudo-MRM. These observations were confirmed on two triple quadrupoles (QqQs), and the real-world applicability of pseudo-MRM on QqQs was validated by the successful analysis of Diesel PM. However, a comparison with an ion trap showed that pseudo-MRM was never favored on that instrument, which caused fragmentation of non-polar PACs in MS/MS.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show an important gain in sensitivity when using pseudo-MRM instead of MRM for non-polar PACs on QqQ instruments. The selectivity of MRM is preserved in pseudo-MRM by applying non-zero collision energies to which only these non-polar PACs are resistant, not the isobaric interferences. No interference issue was observed when analyzing Diesel PM, a complex matrix, with our pseudo-MRM method. Therefore, we advise for a broader use of this MS/MS mode for trace-level determination of non-polar PAHs.
Disciplines :
Chemistry
Author, co-author :
Galmiche, Mathieu ; Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Énergie, l'Environnement et la Santé (ICPEES) - Physico-Chimie de l'Atmosphère, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France ; Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse des Interactions et des Systèmes (LSMIS), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
Rodrigues, Anaïs ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Molecular Systems (MolSys) ; Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Énergie, l'Environnement et la Santé (ICPEES) - Physico-Chimie de l'Atmosphère, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
Motsch, Estelle; Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg - Biogéochimie moléculaire, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
Delhomme, Olivier; Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Énergie, l'Environnement et la Santé (ICPEES) - Physico-Chimie de l'Atmosphère, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France ; UFR Sciences fondamentales et appliquées, Université de Lorraine, Metz, France
François, Yannis-Nicolas ; Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse des Interactions et des Systèmes (LSMIS), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
Millet, Maurice ; Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Énergie, l'Environnement et la Santé (ICPEES) - Physico-Chimie de l'Atmosphère, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
Language :
English
Title :
The use of pseudo-MRM for a sensitive and selective detection and quantification of polycyclic aromatic compounds by tandem mass spectrometry.
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