Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with spiral large-volume injection for determination of fluoridated phosphonates produced by fluoride-mediated regeneration of nerve agent adduct in human serum.

A sensitive method for determination of fluoridated phosphonates produced by fluoride-mediated regeneration of nerve agent adduct in human serum was developed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) with large-volume injection. The GC injection was administered using stomach-type spiral injector (LVI, AiSTI SCIENCE) enabling introduction of only target compounds from 50 µL ethyl acetate extract after purging the solvent. For GCMS analysis of sarin (GB), 670 times higher sensitivity, based on limit of detection (LOD, S/N = 3, on extracted ion chromatogram (EIC) at m/z 99), was achieved using this injection (50 µL) compared to that achieved using 1 µL split injection (ratio 20:1). Ethyl (EtGB), isopropyl (GB), n-propyl (nPrGB), isobutyl (iBuGB), pinacolyl (GD), cyclohexyl (GF) methylphosphonofluoridates, and O-ethyl N, N-dimethylphosphoramidofluoridate (GAF) were detected with low LOD (15-75 pg/mL) and sharp peak shapes (high practical plate number (defined as 5.54 x (tR/Wh)2, where tR is the retention time and Wh is the bandwidth at half-height): 1100000-2400000) in GCMS using a polar separation column, electron ionization, and quadruple mass analyzer. During the analysis of fluoridated phosphonate-spiked ethyl acetate extract of solid phase extraction (SPE, Bond Elut NEXUS) from fluoride-mediated regeneration of blank human plasma, LOD (on EIC at m/z 99 except for GAF (m/z 126)) were 25-140 pg/mL with sharp peak shapes. The reaction recoveries in fluoride-mediated regeneration of plasma, which was inhibited by GB, GD, GA, GF, VX, and Russian VX (10 ng/mL), were 49-114% except for GD (10%). The concentration levels of 0.3-1 ng/mL of nerve agents in plasma could be determined.

Target analysis of tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives of nerve agent hydrolysis products by selectable one-dimensional or two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A target analysis method for the sensitive and discriminative determination of the nerve agent hydrolysis products alkyl methylphosphonic acids as their tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivatives was developed using a combination of selectable one- and two-dimensional (1D/2D) GC-MS, and applied to the analysis of samples with significant interfering matrices. After sample drying, the alkylmethylphosphonic acids and methylphosphonic acid (MPA) were converted to TBDMS derivatives by addition of N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with heating, and subjected to 1D/2D GC-MS. The apparatus consisted of an initial low thermal mass DB-5 column and a second DB-17 column together with an electron ionization quadrupole mass spectrometer, offering simple and flexible switching between one- and two-dimensional GC-MS analysis in a single GC-MS system. Using 1D/2D GC-MS, analytes that do not co-elute with matrix components can be separated using 1D GC mode alone. Only those parts of the chromatogram that are negatively affected by the co-elution of matrix components need to be transferred and separated with 2D GC. Quantitation can be performed by a combination of both separations and mass spectrometric detection. The TBDMS derivatives of ethyl-, isopropyl-, isobutyl-, pinacolyl-, and cyclohexyl-MPA (cHMPA) and MPA itself were well separated within 3min and determined in 1D GC-MS mode with detection limits of around 10ng/ml of reaction mixture (except for the cHMPA derivative, whose mass spectrum contained noisy background peaks). In 2D-GC-MS mode, where each 0.04min elution window from the 1D GC was subjected to heart-cut (H/C) and transferred to the second column after back-flushing the first column, the peak for the cHMPA TBDMS derivative was isolated and afforded a clean mass spectrum within 6min. The recoveries of all the derivatives on 2D GC from 1D GC were estimated to be over 66%, and the detection limits were around 10ng/ml of reaction mixture. In the presence of urine extract, the target compounds were not detected as separated peaks in 1D GC-MS mode (except for isobutyl-MPA), and quantification based on extracted ion monitoring could not be achieved. However, 2D GC-MS of the H/C fractions of the target derivatives gave single peaks with well-defined mass spectra, and the recoveries of the derivatives were over 70% except for cHMPA (31% at 1.25µg/ml). Phosphonic acids could be detected at less than 60ng/ml. Sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid also negatively affected the determination of alkyl methylphosphonic acid TBDMS derivatives in 1D GC-MS, and the MPA-TBDMS-derivative peak was completely obscured by the large sulfuric-acid-derivative peak. However, under 1D/2D GC-MS conditions, baseline separation of the MPA derivative and sulfuric acid derivative was achieved, enabling highly sensitive MPA detection at 20ng/ml.

Measurement of breakthrough volumes of volatile chemical warfare agents on a poly(2,6-diphenylphenylene oxide)-based adsorbent and application to thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis.

To establish adequate on-site solvent trapping of volatile chemical warfare agents (CWAs) from air samples, we measured the breakthrough volumes of CWAs on three adsorbent resins by an elution technique using direct electron ionization mass spectrometry. The trapping characteristics of Tenax(®) TA were better than those of Tenax(®) GR and Carboxen(®) 1016. The latter two adsorbents showed non-reproducible breakthrough behavior and low VX recovery. The specific breakthrough values were more than 44 (sarin) L/g Tenax(®) TA resin at 20°C. Logarithmic values of specific breakthrough volume for four nerve agents (sarin, soman, tabun, and VX) showed a nearly linear correlation with the reciprocals of their boiling points, but the data point of sulfur mustard deviated from this linear curve. Next, we developed a method to determine volatile CWAs in ambient air by thermal desorption-gas chromatography (TD-GC/MS). CWA solutions that were spiked into the Tenax TA(®) adsorbent tubes were analyzed by a two-stage TD-GC/MS using a Tenax(®) TA-packed cold trap tube. Linear calibration curves for CWAs retained in the resin tubes were obtained in the range between 0.2pL and 100pL for sarin, soman, tabun, cyclohexylsarin, and sulfur mustard; and between 2pL and 100pL for VX and Russian VX. We also examined the stability of CWAs in Tenax(®) TA tubes purged with either dry or 50% relative humidity air under storage conditions at room temperature or 4°C. More than 80% sarin, soman, tabun, cyclohexylsarin, and sulfur mustard were recovered from the tubes within 2 weeks. In contrast, the recoveries of VX and Russian VX drastically reduced with storage time at room temperature, resulting in a drop to 10-30% after 2 weeks. Moreover, we examined the trapping efficiency of Tenax TA(®) adsorbent tubes for vaporized CWA samples (100mL) prepared in a 500mL gas sampling cylinder. In the concentration range of 0.2-2.5mg/m(3), >50% of sarin, soman, tabun, cyclohexylsarin, and HD were recovered, whereas <1% of VX and Russian VX were recovered in the same concentration range. The results indicate that CWA vapors, with the exception of VX and Russian VX, can be measured by an on-site collection procedure using the Tenax(®) TA resin tubes, followed by a subsequent TD-GC/MS analysis.

Development of a gas-cylinder-free plasma desorption/ionization system for on-site detection of chemical warfare agents.

A gas-cylinder-free plasma desorption/ionization system was developed to realize a mobile on-site analytical device for detection of chemical warfare agents (CWAs). In this system, the plasma source was directly connected to the inlet of a mass spectrometer. The plasma can be generated with ambient air, which is drawn into the discharge region by negative pressure in the mass spectrometer. High-power density pulsed plasma of 100 kW could be generated by using a microhollow cathode and a laboratory-built high-intensity pulsed power supply (pulse width: 10-20 µs; repetition frequency: 50 Hz). CWAs were desorbed and protonated in the enclosed space adjacent to the plasma source. Protonated sample molecules were introduced to the mass spectrometer by airflow through the discharge region. To evaluate the analytical performance of this device, helium and air plasma were directly irradiated to CWAs in the gas-cylinder-free plasma desorption/ionization system and the protonated molecules were analyzed by using an ion-trap mass spectrometer. A blister agent (nitrogen mustard 3) and nerve gases [cyclohexylsarin (GF), tabun (GA), and O-ethyl S-2-N,N-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate (VX)] in solution in n-hexane were applied to the Teflon rod and used as test samples, after solvent evaporation. As a result, protonated molecules of CWAs were successfully observed as the characteristic ion peaks at m/z 204, 181, 163, and 268, respectively. In air plasma, the limits of detection were estimated to be 22, 20, 4.8, and 1.0 pmol, respectively, which were lower than those obtained with helium plasma. To achieve quantitative analysis, calibration curves were made by using CWA stimulant dipinacolyl methylphosphonate as an internal standard; straight correlation lines (R(2) = 0.9998) of the peak intensity ratios (target per internal standard) were obtained. Remarkably, GA and GF gave protonated dimer ions, and the ratios of the protonated dimer ions to the protonated monomers increased with the amount of GA and GF applied.

Ion mobility spectrometric analysis of vaporous chemical warfare agents by the instrument with corona discharge ionization ammonia dopant ambient temperature operation.

The ion mobility behavior of nineteen chemical warfare agents (7 nerve gases, 5 blister agents, 2 lachrymators, 2 blood agents, 3 choking agents) and related compounds including simulants (8 agents) and organic solvents (39) was comparably investigated by the ion mobility spectrometry instrument utilizing weak electric field linear drift tube with corona discharge ionization, ammonia doping, purified inner air drift flow circulation operated at ambient temperature and pressure. Three alkyl methylphosphonofluoridates, tabun, and four organophosphorus simulants gave the intense characteristic positive monomer-derived ion peaks and small dimer-derived ion peaks, and the later ion peaks were increased with the vapor concentrations. VX, RVX and tabun gave both characteristic positive monomer-derived ions and degradation product ions. Nitrogen mustards gave the intense characteristic positive ion peaks, and in addition distinctive negative ion peak appeared from HN3. Mustard gas, lewisite 1, o-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile and 2-mercaptoethanol gave the characteristic negative ion peaks. Methylphosphonyl difluoride, 2-chloroacetophenone and 1,4-thioxane gave the characteristic ion peaks both in the positive and negative ion mode. 2-Chloroethylethylsulfide and allylisothiocyanate gave weak ion peaks. The marker ion peaks derived from two blood agents and three choking agents were very close to the reactant ion peak in negative ion mode and the respective reduced ion mobility was fluctuated. The reduced ion mobility of the CWA monomer-derived peaks were positively correlated with molecular masses among structurally similar agents such as G-type nerve gases and organophosphorus simulants; V-type nerve gases and nitrogen mustards. The slope values of the calibration plots of the peak heights of the characteristic marker ions versus the vapor concentrations are related to the detection sensitivity, and within chemical warfare agents examined the slope values for sarin, soman, tabun and nitrogen mustards were higher. Some CWA simulants and organic solvents gave the ion peaks eluting at the similar positions of the CWAs, resulting in false positive alarms.

Fundamental properties of a touchable high-power pulsed microplasma jet and its application as a desorption/ionization source for ambient mass spectrometry.

Plasma-based ambient desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (ADI-MS) has attracted considerable attention in many fields because of its capacity for direct sample analyses. In this study, a high-power pulsed microplasma jet (HPPMJ) was developed and investigated as a new plasma desorption/ionization source. In an HPPMJ, a microhollow cathode discharge is generated in a small hole (500 µm in diameter) using a pulsed high-power supply. This system can realize a maximum power density of 5 × 10(8) W/cm(3). The measured electron number density, excitation temperature and afterglow gas temperature of the HPPMJ were 3.7 × 10(15) cm(-3), 7000 K at maximum and less than 60 °C, respectively, which demonstrate that the HPPMJ is a high-energy, high-density plasma source that is comparable with an argon inductively coupled plasma while maintaining a low gas temperature. The HPPMJ causes no observable damage to the target because of its low gas temperature and electrode configuration; thus, we can apply it directly to human skin. To demonstrate the analytical capacity of ADI-MS using an HPPMJ, the plasma was applied to direct solid sample analysis of the active ingredients in pharmaceutical tablets. Caffeine, acetaminophen, ethenzamide, isopropylantipyrine and ibuprofen were successfully detected. Application to living tissue was also demonstrated, and isopropylantipyrine on a finger was successfully analyzed without damaging the skin. The limits of detection (LODs) for caffeine, isopropylantipyrine and ethenzamide were calculated, and LODs at the picogram level were achieved. These results indicate the applicability of the HPPMJ for high-sensitivity analysis of materials on a heat-sensitive surface.

Sensitive monitoring of volatile chemical warfare agents in air by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry with counter-flow introduction.

A new method for sensitively and selectively detecting chemical warfare agents (CWAs) in air was developed using counter-flow introduction atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (MS). Four volatile and highly toxic CWAs were examined, including the nerve gases sarin and tabun, and the blister agents mustard gas (HD) and Lewisite 1 (L1). Soft ionization was performed using corona discharge to form reactant ions, and the ions were sent in the direction opposite to the airflow by an electric field to eliminate the interfering neutral molecules such as ozone and nitrogen oxide. This resulted in efficient ionization of the target CWAs, especially in the negative ionization mode. Quadrupole MS (QMS) and ion trap tandem MS (ITMS) instruments were developed and investigated, which were movable on the building floor. For sarin, tabun, and HD, the protonated molecular ions and their fragment ions were observed in the positive ion mode. For L1, the chloride adduct ions of L1 hydrolysis products were observed in negative ion mode. The limit of detection (LOD) values in real-time or for a 1 s measurement monitoring the characteristic ions were between 1 and 8 µg/m(3) in QMS instrument. Collision-induced fragmentation patterns for the CWAs were observed in an ITMS instrument, and optimized combinations of the parent and daughter ion pairs were selected to achieve real-time detection with LOD values of around 1 µg/m(3). This is a first demonstration of sensitive and specific real-time detection of both positively and negatively ionizable CWAs by MS instruments used for field monitoring.

Determination of ricin by nano liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry after extraction using lactose-immobilized monolithic silica spin column.

Ricin is a glycosylated proteinous toxin that is registered as toxic substance by Chemical Weapons convention. Current detection methods can result in false negatives and/or positives, and their criteria are not based on the identification of the protein amino acid sequences. In this study, lactose-immobilized monolithic silica extraction followed by tryptic digestion and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was developed as a method for rapid and accurate determination of ricin. Lactose, which was immobilized on monolithic silica, was used as a capture ligand for ricin extraction from the sample solution, and the silica was supported in a disk-packed spin column. Recovery of ricin was more than 40%. After extraction, the extract was digested with trypsin and analyzed by LC/MS. The accurate masses of molecular ions and MS/MS spectra of the separated peptide peaks were measured by Fourier transform-MS and linear iontrap-MS, respectively. Six peptides, which were derived from the ricin A-(m/z 537.8, 448.8 and 586.8) and B-chains (m/z 701.3, 647.8 and 616.8), were chosen as marker peptides for the identification of ricin. Among these marker peptides, two peptides were ricin-specific. This method was applied to the determination of ricin from crude samples. The monolithic silica extraction removed most contaminant peaks from the total ion chromatogram of the sample, and the six marker peptides were clearly detected by LC/MS. It takes about 5 h for detection and identification of more than 8 ng/ml of ricin through the whole handling, and this procedure will be able to deal with the terrorism using chemical weapon.

Preparation and evaluation of lactose-modified monoliths for the adsorption and decontamination of plant toxins and lectins.

A series of sugar-modified porous silica monoliths with different sugar ligands (ß-lactoside, ß-N-acetyllactosaminide, ß-d-galactoside, ß-d-N-acetylgalactosaminide and ß-d-glucoside) and linkers were prepared and evaluated using plant toxins and lectins including ricin and a Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA(120)). Among these sugar monoliths, a lactose monolith carrying a triethylene glycol spacer adsorbed ricin and RCA(120) with the highest efficiency. The monolith showed no binding with albumin, globulin, and lectins from Jack beans, Osage orange, Amur maackia and wheat germ. All these data support the utility of the lactose-modified monolith as a tool for adsorption and decontamination of plant toxins.

Paraoxonase activity against nerve gases measured by capillary electrophoresis and characterization of human serum paraoxonase (PON1) polymorphism in the coding region (Q192R).

An analytical method for determining paraoxonase activity against sarin, soman and VX was established. We used capillary electrophoresis to measure directly the hydrolysis products: alkyl methylphosphonates. After enzymatic reaction of human serum paraoxonase (PON1) with nerve gas, substrate was removed with dichloromethane, and alkyl methylphoshphonates were quantified by capillary electrophoresis of reversed osmotic flow using cationic detergent and sorbic acid. This method was applied to the characterization of human serum PON1 polymorphism for nerve gas hydrolytic activity in the coding region (Q192R). PON1-192 and PON1-55 genotypes were determined by their gel electrophoretic fragmentation pattern with restriction enzymes after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of blood leukocyte genomic DNA. Frequencies of genotypes among 63 members of our institutes with PON1-192 and PON1-55 were 9.5% ((192)QQ), 30.1% ((192)QR) and 44.4% ((192)RR), and 82.5% ((55)LL), 17.5% ((55)LM) and 0% ((55)MM), respectively. (192)Q and (192)R enzymes were purified from the respective genotype human plasma, using blue agarose affinity chromatography and diethyl amino ethane (DEAE) anion exchange chromatography. V(max) and K(m) were measured using Lineweaver-Burk plots for hydrolytic activities against sarin, soman and VX at pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C. For sarin and soman, the V(max) for (192)Q PON1 were 3.5- and 1.5-fold higher than those for (192)R PON1; and k(cat)/K(m) for (192)Q PON1 were 1.3- and 2.8-fold higher than those for (192)R PON1. For VX, there was little difference in V(max) and k(cat)/K(m) between (192)Q and (192)R PON1, and VX hydrolyzing activity was significantly lower than those for sarin and soman. PON1 hydrolyzed sarin and soman more effectively than paraoxon.

Determination of thiodiglycol, a mustard gas hydrolysis product by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after tert-butyldimethylsilylation.

A method for determining thiodiglycol (TDG), a mustard gas hydrolysis product in water, serum and urine samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after tert-butyldimethylsilylation (TBDMS) is described. Quantitation of TDG was performed by measuring the respective peak area on the extracted ion chromatogram of m/z 293, using an internal standard, the TDG homologue, thiodipropanol, peak area of which was measured as m/z 321. The presence of salts in the sample solution not only suppressed the loss of TDG by vaporization during the evaporation of water, but also facilitated the rate of production of di-silylated derivative, bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyoxylethyl)sulfide (TDG-(TBDMS)2). Under the pretreatment conditions used, in which 0.5 ml of water sample supplemented with 100 microM potassium chloride was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, followed by reaction with N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide at 60 degrees C for 1 h, TDG-(TBDMS)2 was reproducibly detected with about a 55% recovery and a limit of detection (LOD, scan mode, S/N = 3) of 5.4 ng/ml. TDG was also determined by GC-MS from a 0.5 ml serum sample (after perchloric acid deproteinization) and from a 0.1 ml urine sample, after TBDMS derivatization. The LOD was determined to be 7.0 and 110 ng/ml for serum and urine, respectively.