Abstract
In order to hyphenate ion pairing chromatography and MS detection we used several types of formates as volatile ion pairing reagents (IPRs) instead of common tetraalkylammonium salts, as these salts tend to precipitate in the ion source. The formates were prepared by mixing formic acid with the corresponding amine. Both tributyl- and trihexylammonium formate proved to be valuable IPRs for the separation of acidic compounds like nitrobenzoic acids, nitrobenzenesulfonic acids and nitrated phenols. Due to the weaker retention of the ion-pairs with trialkylammonium formates compared with tetraalkylammonium compounds, either less organic modifier or a higher concentration of the IPR had to be used. With negative atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry it was possible to unambiguously identify several acidic oxidation products of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in ammunition wastewater and soil extracts. 2-amino-4,6-dinitrobenzoic acid was often found to be the main metabolite of TNT in such water samples.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Yinon J, Zitrin S (1993) Modern methods and applications in analysis of explosives. Wiley, Chichester
Schmidt TC, Steinbach K, Buetehorn U (2000) Environmental analysis of nitroaromatics. In: Meyers RA (ed) Encyclopedia of analytical chemistry. Wiley, Chichester, pp. 2946–2966
Godejohann M, Preiss A, Levsen K, Wunsch G (1996) Chromatographia 43:612–618
Lewin U, Wennrich L, Efer J, Engewald W (1997) Chromatographia 45:91–98
Schmidt TC, Steinbach K, von Low E, Stork G (1998) Chemosphere 37:1079–1090
Crowley TO, Larson RA (1994) J Chromatogr Sci 32:57–60
Schmidt TC, Steinbach K, Buetehorn U, Heck K, Volkwein U, Stork G (1999) Chemosphere 38:3119–3130
Schmidt TC, Petersmann M, Kaminski L, von Low E, Stork G (1997) Fresenius' J Anal Chem 357:121–126
Caton JE, Griest WH (1996) J Liq Chromatogr Relat Technol 19:661–677
Pocurull E, Aguilar C, Alonso MC, Barcelo D, Borrull F, Marce RM (1999) J Chromatogr A 854:187–195
Storm T, Reemtsma T, Jekel M (1999) J Chromatogr A 854:175–185
Suter MJF, Riediker S, Giger W (1999) Anal Chem 71:897–904
Fang JS, Barcelona MJ (1999) Anal Lett 32:1459–1473
Bruns-Nagel D, Schmidt TC, Drzyzga O, von Low E, Steinbach K (1999) Environ Sci Pollut Res 6:7-10
Alonso MC, Barcelo D (1999) Anal Chim Acta 400:211–231
Pamme N, Steinbach K, Ensinger WJ, Schmidt TC (2002) J Chromatogr A 943:47–54
Castillo M, Alonso MC, Riu J, Barcelo D (1999) Environ Sci Technol 33:1300–1306
Johnson GR, Smets BF, Spain JC (2001) Appl Environ Microbiol 67:5460–5466
Spain JC, Hughes JB, Knackmuss H-J (2000) Biodegradation of nitroaromatic compounds and explosives. Lewis, Boca Raton, Fla.
Takino M, Daishima S, Yamaguchi K (2000) Analyst 125:1097–1102
Loos R, Barcelo D (2001) J Chromatogr A 938:45–55
Holcapek M, Jandera P, Zderadicka P (2001) J Chromatogr A 926:175–186
Alonso MC, Pocurull E, Marce RM, Borrull F, Barcelo D (2002) Environ Toxicol Chem 21:2059–2066
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the HIM-ASG, Stadtallendorf, Germany. We thank Dirk Bruns-Nagel for providing extracts of contaminated soil, and Kerstin Heck and Susanne Schneider for technical assistance. Hans Peter Arp and three unknown reviewers are acknowledged for helpful remarks on the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schmidt, T.C., Buetehorn, U. & Steinbach, K. HPLC-MS investigations of acidic contaminants in ammunition wastes using volatile ion-pairing reagents (VIP-LC-MS). Anal Bioanal Chem 378, 926–931 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-003-2236-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-003-2236-z