Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluorooctanesulfonate in bivalve shells: extraction method optimization.

Different extraction methods, including extraction by organic solvents with and without acetic acid digestion, and mixed inorganic acid digestion coupled with solid phase extraction (SPE), were developed for the analysis of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in bivalve shells. The extracts were separated, identified and quantified by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The method utilizing mixed acid digestion coupled with SPE performed more efficiently than other extraction methods. Matrix recoveries of the optimized methods ranged from 92% to 104%, with limits of detection of 0.05-0.43ng/g. The optimized method was successfully applied to the analysis of PFCAs and PFOS in shell samples of two bivalves from Bohai Bay, China. PFCAs and PFOS concentrations in the shells ranged from 0.3 ng/g to 4.1 ng/g, 1-50 times lower than those in the soft tissues of bivalves for most target analytes. No relationship between PFCAs and PFOS in shells and in soft tissues was found; this is explained by the different contaminant uptake mechanism of shells and soft tissues.

The combination effects of phenolic compounds and fluconazole on the formation of ergosterol in Candida albicans determined by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) for the quantification of ergosterol, lanosterol, and squalene was developed to evaluate the combination effects of phenolic compounds with fluconazole on ergosterol biosynthesis in Candida albicans. The three analytes were separated by a column of C18 and were quantified without interference with each other using positive mode tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Molecular ions of ergosterol and lanosterol were detected as the [M+H-H2O]+ ion species at m/z 380 and 410, whereas squalene appeared as the [M+H]+ ion species at m/z 412. On fragmentation of ergosterol, lanosterol, and squalene, the product ions at m/z 69, 149, and 109, respectively, were present as major fragments. These product ions were used for the quantification of them in multiple reaction monitoring acquisition mode. The relationship between signal intensity and the analytes' concentration was linear over the concentration range of 0.05-10 microg/ml. Following the treatment of C. albicans with fluconazole in combination with albicanyl caffeate, resveratrol, and 3,4'-difluorostilbene, respectively, the content of ergosterol in both the sensitive and resistant C. albicans showed depletion, whereas the squalene showed accumulation especially in the sensitive isolates determined with the method developed.