Since the latter half of the 20th century mass spectrometry (MS) applications, associated with gas chromatography (GC) separation (i.e. GC-MS), have been the “gold standard” in specialised clinical laboratories for the quantitation of drugs, organic acids and steroids [1]. This status quo remained unchallenged until just over a decade ago when liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spec...

The analysis and characterization of 12 “designer” tryptamines by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) are presented. Molecular weights were confirmed based on the experimental observation of protonated and deprotonated pseudo-molecular ions in the positive and negative ion modes, respectively. Standard tandem mass spectrometry (MS) experiments were also performed, and the results...

Among the new psychoactive substances (NPS) that have recently emerged on the market, many of the new synthetic opioids have shown to be particularly harmful. A new synthetic analogue of fentanyl, N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenethyl)piperidin-4-yl]prop-2-enamide (acrylfentanyl), was identified in powder from a seized capsule found at a forensic psychiatric ward in Denmark. Gas chromatography with mass s...

Maleimides (1H-Pyrrole-2,5-diones) are monopyrrolic pigment derivatives with specific alkyl side chains that can be directly linked to their tetrapyrrole precursors, most notably chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls. These compounds can be used as palaeoenvironmental indicators such as algal productivity and redox conditions in ancient and modern aquatic systems. Here, we present a new method ...

Peak alignment is a critical procedure in mass spectrometry-based biomarker discovery in metabolomics. One of peak alignment approaches to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS) data is peak matching-based alignment. A key to the peak matching-based alignment is the calculation of mass spectral similarity scores. Various mass spectral similarity measures h...

A quantitative analysis of the individual compounds in tobacco essential oils is performed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) combined with flame ionization detector (FID). A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF/MS) was coupled to GC x GC for the identification of the resolved peaks. The response of a flame ionization detector to different compound classes was calibr...

Simiao Wan (SMW), an important multiherbal formula used in traditional Chinese medicine, is extensively used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. However, the knowledge of the bioactive components of SMW remains unclear. Thus, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were used to analyze the chemical constituents of volatile and nonvolatile extr...

From a traditional perspective, mass spectrometry and polymer analysis appear to be incompatible. Mass spectrometry requires gas-phase ions for a successful analysis and polymers are composed of large, often entangled macromolecules that are not readily converted to gas-phase species. Despite these natural difficulties, mass spectrometry techniques have been developed to characterize the chemic...

Pyrolysis characteristics and mechanism of tobacco stem were studied by pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PyGC/MS), thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and mass spectrometry (TG-FTIR and TG-MS) techniques. The composition of evolved volatiles from fast pyrolysis of tobacco stem was determined by Py-GC/MS analysis, and the e...

Abstract Levamisole is an anthelminthic that was first used as a de-worming agent in humans and animals. It has also been used to treat inflammatory conditions as well as certain types of cancer. Levamisole was discontinued for human use in the early 21st century due to toxic side effects including agranulocytosis and vasculitis. Recently, levamisole was discovered as a cocaine adulterant after...