Fully Compatible and Ultra-Sensitive Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Using Sheathless Porous-Tip Interfacing

The on-line coupling of micellar electrokinetic chromatography and mass spectrometry (MEKC-MS) is often hampered by incompatibility problems leading to reduced separation performance and unfavorable limits of detection (LODs). Here we propose a new selective and highly sensitive MEKC-MS/MS method em...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Moreno-González, David, Haselberg, Rob, Gámiz-Gracia, Laura, García-Campaña, Ana M., de Jong, Gerhardus J., Somsen, Govert W.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Jaén
Repositorio:RUJA. Repositorio Institucional de la Producción Científica de la Universidad de Jaén
OAI Identifier:oai:ruja.ujaen.es:10953/3247
Acceso en línea:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021967317314565
https://hdl.handle.net/10953/3247
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Volatile surfactant
Carbamates
Micellar electrokinetic chromatography
Mass spectrometry
Sheathless interfacing
Electrospray ionization
Descripción
Sumario:The on-line coupling of micellar electrokinetic chromatography and mass spectrometry (MEKC-MS) is often hampered by incompatibility problems leading to reduced separation performance and unfavorable limits of detection (LODs). Here we propose a new selective and highly sensitive MEKC-MS/MS method employing a sheathless porous-tip interface in combination with a micellar phase comprised of semi-volatile surfactant molecules. Carbamate pesticides (CRBs) were selected as representative model compounds being neutral toxic pollutants potentially present at trace levels in environmental water samples. A background electrolyte of 75 mM perfluorooctanoic acid adjusted to pH 9.0 with ammonium hydroxide allowed efficient separation of 15 CRBs and appeared fully compatible with electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS. Interfacing parameters, such as the distance between the capillary tip and mass-spectrometer inlet, ESI voltage, and dry gas temperature and flow were optimized in order to attain good spray stability and high analyte signal-to-noise ratios. For CRBs the LODs ranged from 0.2 to 3.9 ng L−1 (13 nL injected, i.e., 2% of capillary volume), representing an improvement for certain CRBs of more than 300-fold when compared with conventional sheath-liquid interfacing. Good linearity (R2 > 0.99) and satisfactory reproducibility were obtained for all CRBs with interday RSD values for peak area and migration time of 4.0–11.3% and below 1.5%, respectively. Analysis of spiked mineral water showed that the new MEKC-MS/MS method allows selective and quantitative determination of CRB concentrations below the maximum residue limit of 100 ng L−1 without the need for sample preconcentration.