Techniques for sample analysis

• US 8,507,844 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation (Waters Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation (Waters Corporation)
• Inventors: Mazza, Cecilia B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanore, David A
• Application Number:
  US13/208,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20120205532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 436/541, 250/281, 250/282, 250/288, 250/290
• US Class Current: 250/282
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/08 using an enricher
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/7233 interfaced to liquid or supercritical fluid chromatograph interfaces in general for introducing or extracting samples to be analysed with specially adapted mass spectrometer, see H01J49/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/004 Combinations of spectrometers, tandem spectrometers, e.g. MS/MS, MSn

Abstract

Techniques are described for performing sample analysis. Liquid chromatographic separation of a sample is performed and an eluent is generated. Mass spectrometry on said eluent is performed to detect a compound where the compound may occur in trace amounts. The compound may have a concentration, for example, of approximately less than one part per trillion.

Claims

1. A system for performing sample analysis comprising:

an apparatus for performing solid phase extraction of a source sample to obtain a concentrated liquid sample;

a liquid chromatograph that perform chromatographic separation of the concentrated liquid sample and generates an eluent; and

a mass spectrometer that analyzes said eluent to detect a compound, wherein the mass spectrometer is configured to perform tandem mass spectral analysis and to detect the compound having a concentration of approximately less than one part per trillion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the compound is any of a pharmaceutical, personal care product, endocrine disruptor, drug, and pesticide.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the compound is any of cimetedine, ranitidine, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, 10-hydroxy-amitriptyline, promethazine, paroxetine, alprazolam, amitriptyline, benztropine, norfluoxetine, fluoxetine, desmethylsertraline, sertraline, albuterol, atenolol, clonidine, oxycodone, amphetamine, hydrocodone, triamterene, metoprolol, enalipril, propanolol, desmethyldiltiazem, diltiazem, norverapamil, verapamil, propoxyphene, amlodipine, acetaminophen, prednisone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, carbamazepine, betamethasone, methylprednisolone, norethindrone, testosterone, valsartan, fluocinonide, atrovastatin, fluticasone, progesterone, simvastatin, theophylline, hydrochiorothiazide, 2-hydroxy-ibuprofen, furosemide, warfarin, glipizide, ibuprofen, gemfibrozil. glyburide, chlorpheniramine, tripolidine, dextromethorphan, clomitrazole, propranolol, erythromycin, terbinafine, azithromycin, miconazole, tramadol, trimethoprim, cocaine, codeine, diphenihydramine, amphetamine, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfanilamide, sulfathiazole, lincomycin, cefatoxime, carbadox, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, penicillin G, oxacillin, naproxen, triclosan, and atrazine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the source sample is any of a solid, a liquid, a food, a solid food, a liquid food, water, sludge, soil, fish tissue, animal tissue, a plant, a vegetable, a fruit, milk, honey, juice, and bird tissue.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the source sample is any of drinking water, surface water, ground water, and wastewater.

6. A method of performing sample analysis comprising:

performing processing of a source sample, said processing including performing solid phase extraction to obtain a concentrated liquid sample;

performing liquid chromatographic separation of the concentrated liquid sample and generating an eluent; and

performing tandem mass spectral analysis of said eluent to detect a compound, wherein the compound has a concentration of approximately less than or equal to one part per trillion.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method is performed in a food-related industry.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the method is performed in an environmental-related industry.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one other sample processing step is performed prior to said solid phase extraction.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said tandem mass spectral analysis is performed by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the compound is any of a pharmaceutical, personal care product, endocrine disruptor, drug, herbicide, and pesticide.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the compound is any of cimetedine, ranitidine, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, 10-hydroxy-amitriptyline, promethazine, paroxetine, alprazolam, amitriptyline, benztropine, norfluoxetine, fluoxetine, desmethylsertraline, sertraline, albuterol, atenolol, clonidine, oxycodone, amphetamine, hydrocodone, triamterene, metoprolol, enalipril, propanolol, desmethyldiltiazem, diltiazem, norverapamil, verapamil, propoxyphene, amlodipine, acetaminophen, prednisone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, carbamazepine, betamethasone, methylprednisolone, norethindrone, testosterone, valsartan, fluocinonide, atrovastatin, fluticasone, progesterone, simvastatin, theophylline, hydrochiorothiazide, 2-hydroxy-ibuprofen, furosemide, warfarin, glipizide, ibuprofen, gemfibrozil. glyburide, chlorpheniramine, tripolidine, dextromethorphan, clomitrazole, propranolol, erythromycin, terbinafine, azithromycin, miconazole, tramadol, trimethoprim, cocaine, codeine, diphenihydramine, amphetamine, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfanilamide, sulfathiazole, lincomycin, cefatoxime, carbadox, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, penicillin G, oxacillin, naproxen, triclosan, and atrazine.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the source sample is any of a solid, a liquid, a food, a solid food, a liquid food, water, sludge, soil, fish tissue, animal tissue, a plant, a vegetable, a fruit, milk, honey, juice, and bird tissue.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the source sample is any of drinking water, surface water, ground water, and wastewater.

15. A method of performing sample analysis comprising:

performing processing of a source sample, said processing including performing solid phase extraction to obtain a concentrated liquid sample, said source sample being other than a water sample;

performing liquid chromatographic separation of said concentrated liquid sample and generating an eluent; and

performing tandem mass spectral analysis of said eluent to detect a compound, wherein the compound has a concentration of approximately less than ten parts per trillion.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the source sample is any of a solid, a liquid, a food, a solid food, a liquid food, sludge, soil, fish tissue, animal tissue, a plant, a vegetable, a fruit, milk, honey, juice, and bird tissue.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the compound is any of a pharmaceutical, personal care product, endocrine disruptor, drug, and pesticide.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the concentration is approximately within the range of two to ten parts per trillion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method is performed in a food-related industry.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the method is performed in an environmental-related industry.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the compound is any of a metabolite, natural product, and organic compound.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the source sample includes a plurality of compounds including said compound, and wherein each of the plurality of compounds is any of a metabolite, natural product, and organic compound detected by said performing tandem mass spectral analysis, each of said plurality of compounds having a concentration of approximately less than or equal to one part per trillion.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the source sample includes a plurality of compounds each detected by performing said tandem mass spectral analysis, each of said plurality of compounds having a concentration of approximately less than or equal to one part per trillion.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of the plurality of compounds is any of cimetedine, ranitidine, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, 10-hydroxy-amitriptyline, promethazine, paroxetine, alprazolam, amitriptyline, benztropine, norfluoxetine, fluoxetine, desmethylsertraline, sertraline, albuterol, atenolol, clonidine, oxycodone, amphetamine, hydrocodone, triamterene, metoprolol, enalipril, propanolol, desmethyldiltiazem, diltiazem, norverapamil, verapamil, propoxyphene, amlodipine, acetaminophen, prednisone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, carbamazepine, betamethasone, methylprednisolone, norethindrone, testosterone, valsartan, fluocinonide, atrovastatin, fluticasone, progesterone, simvastatin, theophylline, hydrochiorothiazide, 2-hydroxy-ibuprofen, furosemide, warfarin, glipizide, ibuprofen, gemfibrozil. glyburide, chlorpheniramine, tripolidine, dextromethorphan, clomitrazole, propranolol, erythromycin, terbinafine, azithromycin, miconazole, tramadol, trimethoprim, cocaine, codeine, diphenihydramine, amphetamine, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, sulfanilamide, sulfathiazole, lincomycin, cefatoxime, carbadox, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, penicillin G, oxacillin, naproxen, triclosan, and atrazine.