Phosphine detection in veterinary samples using headspace gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with multiple
Andreas F Lehner1, Margaret Johnson1, John P Buchweitz1,2
1Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Toxicology Section, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, 48910, USA.
Rationale:
Determination of phosphine exposure from zinc or aluminum phosphide fumigants continues to be a routine analytical requirement in veterinary forensic toxicology. There is a need for a more reliable and specific method than simple gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of sample solvent extracts, as GC/MS of extracts on capillary columns used for general screens involves significant interference from air peaks.
Methods:
GC/MS/MS headspace analysis of acid-generated phosphine gas enabled study of the feasibility of devising multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) approaches to the determination of phosphine with greater specificity.
Results:
Collision-induced dissociation in GC/MS/MS showed that phosphine generated m/z 34 → 31, 32 and 33 ion transitions by sequential proton release as well as minor transitions m/z 34 → 47, 34 → 63 and 63 → 31.5 by intermolecular collisions and double charging. Study of the formation of these product ions enabled development of MRM settings for a highly useful headspace method for phosphine detection.
Conclusions:
The method was validated over a working range of 5-100 ppm of phosphide generating phosphine gas which enabled retention of regular screen capillary columns without necessitating separation from air components. The method should have adequate sensitivity and reliability for veterinary toxicology laboratories confronting specimens from animals poisoned by crop fumigants.
More Related Videos
09:34Improved Polymerase Chain Reaction-restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Genotyping of Toxic Pufferfish by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Published on: September 20, 2016
05:31Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Paired with Total Vaporization Solid-Phase Microextraction as a Forensic Tool
Published on: May 25, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Gas Chromatography: Types of Detectors-II
Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS)
A gas chromatograph consists of a long, narrow capillary column with a polysiloxane coating on the inner wall....
Peptide Identification Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry
This technique helps gather information regarding the protein from which the peptide was obtained and to study the peptides’ amino acid sequence. Identifying peptides from a complex mixture is an important component of the growing field of...
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography: Types of Detectors
