Tandem mass spectrometry final method

All previous discussion has focused on sample preparation, i.e., removal of the targeted analyte(s) from the sample matrix, isolation of the analyte(s) from other co-extracted, undesirable sample components, and transfer of the analytes into a solvent suitable for final analysis. Over the years, numerous types of analytical instruments have been employed for this final analysis step as noted in the preceding text and Tables 3 and 4. Overall, GC and LC are the most often used analytical techniques, and modern GC and LC instrumentation coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection systems are currently the analytical techniques of choice. Methods relying on spectrophotometric detection and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) are now rarely employed, except perhaps for qualitative purposes. 

More recently, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) have been evaluated as possible alternative methods for carfentrazone-ethyl compounds in crop matrices. The LC/MS methods allow the chemical derivatization step for the acid metabolites to be avoided, reducing the analysis time. These new methods provide excellent sensitivity and method recovery for carfentrazone-ethyl. However, the final sample extracts, after being cleaned up extensively using three SPE cartridges, still exhibited ionization suppression due to the matrix background for the acid metabolites. Acceptable method recoveries (70-120%) of carfentrazone-ethyl metabolites have not yet been obtained. 

Several methodologies have been published for the determination of selected emerging contaminants in sewage sludge. The most recently reported methods are summarized in Table 1, comprising extraction of the sludge sample, subsequent purification of the extract, and final analysis by either gas or liquid chromatography (GC or LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) or tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS). 

A final category of gas-phase ion-electron reactions as activation methods for tandem mass spectrometry involves interactions between singly charged precursor ions and free electrons (note that ECD, hot ECD, ETD, and EDD require at least doubly charged precursor ions). The first reaction of this type, involving singly protonated peptides, was reported by Zubarev... 

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