Validation of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods

Self-test 5.4B

1. Matrix effect can be calculated both in the signal scale and in the concentration scale. Below signals for post-extraction spiked apple extract and a calibration graph is given. The apple extract was fortified with thiabendazole at 0.05 mg/kg level.

c (mg/kg)

Signal
0.001 525357
0.001 519754
0.001 576415
0.005 1516738
0.01 2353920
0.01 2311093
0.01 2343350
0.05 9986609
0.1 20330928
0.25 44231346
0.5 87330954
Sample 8490871
Sample 8337484
Sample

9159663

 

Q1. Calculate the matrix effect from the signals.

Please give the answer in percents with one decimal place and please use dot as decimals separator (i.e. please give 91.7% and not 0.917; 91,7% or 91.765%).

Q2. Calculate the matrix effect from the concentrations.

Please give the answer in percents with one decimal place and please use dot as decimals separator (i.e. please give 91.7% and not 0.917; 91,7% or 91.765%).

Q3. Compare the results of Q1 and Q2 and explain why the results are somewhat different?

Was your answer correct?

2. Aldicarb is a well-known pesticide on fruits and vegetables that is often determine with LC-MS. As a sample preparation method often QuEChERS method is used.

In QuEChERS method 15.00 g of the homogenized sample was weighted into a 50 ml polyethylene centrifuge tube. 15 ml of 1% acetic acid in acetonitrile (v/v)|6 g of anhydrous magnesium sulphate and 1.5 g of anhydrous sodium acetate were added and the tube was vigorously shaken by hand for 1 min. It was necessary to ensure that solvent interacts well with the entire sample and that crystalline agglomerates are broken down sufficiently. The tube was centrifuged at 3000 rpm (900×g) for 1 min. The upper layer of the extract was introduced into a glass centrifuge tube|which contained 50 mg of PSA and 150 mg of anhydrous magnesium sulphate per 1 ml of extract. The tube was sealed and shaken vigorously for 30 s and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 1 min. The supernatant was collected for spiking. The pre-concentration factor is 1.

In order to study if matrix matched calibration can be used within the same commodity group (in order to account for matrix effects) the matrix effect was determined in two apple sorts. The extracts of blank apples were spiked at 0.5 mg/kg level in five replica.

As a result of LC-MS analyses following peak areas were obtained:

 

Standard Apple 1 Apple 2
1236424 1174426 252367
1159016 1140330 317151
1163849 1075465 253337
1119487 1080991 263896
1039944 220693


Question 1:
Estimate the matrix effect for both apples!

Please give the answer in percents with one decimal place and please use dot as decimals separator (i.e. please give 91.7% and not 0.917; 91,7% or 91.765%).

Apple 1:   

Apple 2:   

Question 2: Can matrix matched calibration be used in this case to account for matrix effect?

3.

Glyphosate was analysed in the lake water with high organic content. The analyses contained sample purification and concentration with solid phase extraction (SPE). However there was a strong suspicion that a strong matrix effect may occur. To test this suspicion a blank sample extract was treated with SPE and the obtained extract was deviated into small parts. Each part was spiked with analyte on a known concentration level (similar to matrix matched calibration). Also the standard solutions at the same concentration levels were prepared. After the LC-MS analyses following results were obtained:

c (µg/L)Signal, standardSignal, spiked sample
2159316002
53519815171
107350125734
1511504137313
2012994155175
50361007124671
 

Calculate the matrix effect based on the given signals.
Please give the answer in percents with one decimal place.

4. Glyphosate was analysed in the lake water with high organic content. The analyses contained sample purification and concentration with solid phase extraction (SPE). However, there was a strong suspicion that a strong matrix effect may occur. To test this suspicion a blank sample extract was treated with SPE and the obtained extract was deviated into small parts. Each part was spiked with analyte on a known concentration level (similar to matrix matched calibration). Also the standard solutions at the same concentration levels were prepared. After the LC-MS analyses following results were obtained:
c (µg/L)Signal, standardSignal, spiked sample
2159316002
53519815171
107350125734
1511504137313
2012994155175
50361007124671
 

Calculate the matrix effect based on the concentrations. Please give the answer in percents with one decimal place.


 

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