In this application note, we demonstrate the use of the Advion expressionL CMS with an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) ion source to analyze two supplements (figure 1) that contain DMBA, a synthetic stimulant that has not been tested on humans. The substance is the chemical cousin to drug DBAA, which is currently banned by the US FDA. The efficacy and safety of DMBA is entirely unknown, yet it is present in many supplements.
Residues and contaminants in the food chain are an increasing problem due to high production volumes, large area distribution and import/export of food items across the world. The novel LESAPLUS surface analysis approach combines the standard liquid extraction surface analysis with an additional step of a nano liquid chromatography separation. This combination is ideally suited to investigate residues and contaminants on surfaces of interest and allows both rapid and direct screening as well as in depth analysis of suspect food samples.
The Loughborough University team has utilized the expression® CMS vAPCI source for a variety of applications including breath analysis, monitoring flavor and fragrance, plant metabolomics, food authenticity and spoilage, and microbiological monitoring. With the use of the expression® CMS, the team was able to successfully execute detection required for these applications quickly and easily.
J. Draher, S. Ehling, N. Cellar, T. Reddy, J. Henion, N. Sousou Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2016, 30, 1265–1272
Milk-derived ingredients are widely used around the world in the manufacturing of nutritional products. They are prone to economically motivated adulteration with nitrogenous compounds such as melamine and its analogs in order to increase the nitrogen content of these ingredients. The need to rapidly screen milk-derived ingredients to detect adulteration is of paramount public health concern. A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based method using a single quadrupole mass spectrometer has been developed for the rapid frontline analysis of six nitrogenous protein adulterants, i.e. melamine, ammeline, ammelide, amidinourea, cyromazine and cyanuric acid, in three key milk-derived ingredients, i.e. whole milk powder, nonfat milk powder and whey protein concentrate.
This application note demonstrates the use of the Advion Interchim Scientific expression® CMS (compact mass spectrometer) coupled with a volatile APCI (vAPCI) ion source to directly detect several key chemicals given off of meat as it spoils at ambient temperature. Evolution of putrescine, cadaverine, and indole were measured over several days as meat spoiled.
M. Montowska, M.R. Alexander, G.A. Tucker, D.A. Barrett
Anal Chem. 2014 Oct 21;86(20):10257-65. doi: 10.1021/ac502449w
In this Article, our previously developed ambient LESA-MS methodology is implemented to analyze five types of thermally treated meat species, namely, beef, pork, horse, chicken, and turkey meat, to select and identify heat-stable and species-specific peptide markers. In-solution tryptic digests of cooked meats were deposited onto a polymer surface, followed by LESA-MS analysis and evaluation using multivariate data analysis and tandem electrospray MS. The five types of cooked meat were clearly discriminated using principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis. 23 heat stable peptide markers unique to species and muscle protein were identified following data-dependent tandem LESA-MS analysis. Surface extraction and direct ambient MS analysis of mixtures of cooked meat species was performed for the first time and enabled detection of 10% (w/w) of pork, horse, and turkey meat and 5% (w/w) of chicken meat in beef, using the developed LESA-MS/MS analysis. The study shows, for the first time, that ambient LESA-MS methodology displays specificity sufficient to be implemented effectively for the analysis of processed and complex peptide digests. The proposed approach is much faster and simpler than other measurement tools for meat speciation; it has potential for application in other areas of meat science or food production.
A sprig of mistletoe symbolizes a tradition of romance; however, reputed to be the “kiss of death,” mistletoe is said by some to be so poisonous that humans can be killed if they ingest the leaves or berries.
In the spirit of the Holiday season and to ensure that mistletoe kisses are enjoyed and are ‘non-toxic’, Nigel Sousou and Jack Henion employed the Advion TLC/CMS system to analyze a commercial Tincture of Mistletoe ethanolic extract to determine whether tyramine is present in the extract of mistletoe.
An office colleague has stolen a prized chocolate bar, and Dr. Eikel with the help of his partner, Dr. Henion, use an Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe (ASAP) enabled expression CMS to determine whodunnit. This application note describes the process, and points the finger at the guilty culprit!
P. P. Hurtado1, E., Palmer1, C. Aldcroft2, H. Moore2, A. Baker2. M. Allen2, J. Jones2, M.A. Turner1, J.C. Reynolds1
1Centre for Analytical Science, Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicester, LE11 3TU, UK 2Advion UK Ltd
The development of new interfaces that enable direct analysis of VOCs represents an attractive and low cost alternative for rapid analysis. For example, the food industry is particularly interested in this type of analysis, where the freshness of different foods can be rapidly measured by the release of its volatiles. Numerous techniques have been used for this purpose. However, mass spectrometry remains the gold standard technique enabling chemical specificity of detection.
Natural products, the underlying active components and their use in traditional medicine are of increased interest in the field of pharmaceutical research. The naturally occurring active ingredients are ideal chemical starting structures to improve upon in the pharmaceutical drug development process and consequently half of all currently approved drugs in the US are based on natural products. It is therefore not surprising that natural product analysis is a field of major interest world wide. Here, we present a simple example of the added benefits of mass spectrometry in typical natural product analysis workflows based on an alcoholic extract of nutmeg.
The expression compact mass spectrometer (CMS) is a novel high performance, easy-to-use single quadrupole mass spectrometer with enhanced scan speed and the ability for on-line polarity switching and in-source fragmentation.