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and then a gradient of 68CminÀ1 to 2408C, followed by a 5.7 min
isotherm step. The injection was performed in splitless mode. MS
conditions: MRM mode in EI (70 eV). Transitions: 173/127.1 (quanti-
fier, 3 V collision energy, CE); 173/99.2 (10 V CE) and 173/84.1 (10 V
CE) for NEM-S-CH3 3 with a gain set at 1. Transitions: 284/127
(quantifier, 9 V CE), 284/158.1 (1 V CE) and 284/99.2 (15 V CE) for
NEM2ÀS 2 with a gain set at 100. Peaks were integrated using
MassHunter.
curred only in the GC injector, but it may constitute indirect
evidence of 10. Precipitate 6 and product 8 could have formed
from intermediate 11. It is interesting to notice that the reac-
tion of 4 with CH3SH did not form any precipitate 6.
Conclusion
We developed a very selective and sensitive SPME-GC–MS
method for the quantification of H2S and CH3SH in aqueous so-
lution using external calibration. The method can also be used
for more difficult matrices such as fabric softeners or foods.
However in this case, the standard addition method rather
than external calibration would have to be applied for true
quantitative measurements. This method was used to demon-
strate that biocides of the isothiazolinone family are able to
scavenge these thiols, thereby preventing malodour formation
in the industrial products in which they are used.
Validation of the method
The method was validated according to ICH requirements.[16] LOD
determination was based on the concordance of nonpolar linear
retention indices[22] (Æ10 units) and good transition ratios (Æ20%):
173/99.2 and 173/84.1 for NEM-S-CH3 and 284/158.1 and 284/99.2
for NEM2ÀS. The method linearity was checked by analysis of cali-
bration and validation solutions, as well as verification that the
concentrations calculated with the calibration curve were directly
proportional to the concentration of H2S or CH3SH in the sample
(R2 >0.994). Intermediate precision (CVR) was estimated over 3 days
with the preparation of fresh calibration and validation solutions.
The LOQs were determined by using the accuracy profile as the
minimum amount of compound that could be quantified with
good accuracy (relative bias Æ10%) and good precision (CVR <
10%). The range of the method was defined as the linear part of
the method starting from the LOQ in which both the accuracy and
the precision of the method were sufficient. The carryover of the
method was estimated by successive blank injections after the
analysis of a 1 mgLÀ1 solution of H2S or CH3SH.
Experimental Section
Reagents, standards, buffer, calibration and validation solu-
tions
CH3SH was available in-house (Firmenich S.A., Geneva, Switzerland)
as a solution in ethanol. It was titrated as 0.33% with Ellman’s re-
agent (5,5’-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), Sigma–Aldrich, Buchs,
Switzerland). The mother solution for H2S was made from sodium
hydrogen sulfide (100.8 mg, anhydrous, Alfa Aesar, Karlsruhe, Ger-
many) in 0.05m sodium hydroxide (100 mL). This solution was ti-
trated using Ellman’s reagent and was at 917 mgLÀ1 of NaSH thus
equivalent to 557 mgLÀ1 of H2S. Then the mother solutions of H2S
and CH3SH were diluted using micropipettes (Socorex, Ecublens,
Switzerland) in a buffer solution at pH 3 prepared from Titrisol
phosphate concentrate (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). The calibra-
tion solutions and validation solution should not be the same for
the validation of the method. NEM 1, triethylamine and 2-methyl-
4-isothiazolinone hydrochloride (5) were purchased from Sigma–Al-
drich. 1,2-Benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (4) was purchased from the
Tokyo Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan).
UPLC-UV-MS method
An Acquity UPLC system (Waters Corp., Milford, MA) was used with
a HSS-T3 column (100ꢁ2.1 mm i.d., 1.8 mm) operated at 408C. The
injection volume was 1 mL. The solvents were as follows: A: water,
0.1% HCOOH; B: acetonitrile, 0.1% HCOOH. Flow: 0.3 mLminÀ1
The detection was performed with the diode array detector (DAD)
at 250–490 nm. The solvent program was set as follows: 10% B, 0–
0.5 min; 10–90% B, 0.5–9 min; 100%, 9–11 min; equilibration at
10% B for 1 min.
.
The MS analyses were performed in ESI positive mode with a TSQ
Quantum Ultra AM triple-quadrupole MS (Thermo Scientific, Basel,
Switzerland) equipped with an H-ESI II source and operated with
XCalibur as follows: spray voltage 3000 V, vaporiser temperature
3008C, sheath gas pressure 50 (arbitrary unit), auxiliary gas 15,
heated capillary temperature 3508C, skimmer offset 5 V. MS and
MS/MS were triggered automatically using the data-dependent
mode. CID argon gas pressure: 1 mtorr. Scan event 1: detection in
Q3 in full-scan mode with a mass range between 130 and 1000.
Scan events 2 and 3: data-dependent MS/MS of the first most-in-
tense ion of scan 1 at 25 and 35 V of collision energy.
SPME and in-fibre derivatisation
A PDMS fibre (100 mm) (Supelco, Buchs, Switzerland) was used. The
derivatisation was performed using a PAL autosampler (CTC, Zwin-
gen, Switzerland) with a cycle composer/macro editor. The reagent
NEM/TEA consisted of a weekly prepared 30:70 w/w solution
(400 mL) of NEM and triethylamine placed in a headspace vial
(volume of 20 mL). The analyte consisted of buffer solution (1 mL)
placed in a headspace vial (20 mL). The fibre was exposed to the
headspace of the NEM/TEA reagent for 30 s, and then to that of
the analyte for 10 min prior to desorption in the GC injector at
2808C.
NMR spectroscopy
1H and 13C NMR spectra were recorded with a 500 MHz Bruker
Avance (Bremen, Germany) spectrometer at 500.13 and
125.76 MHz, respectively. Chemical shifts (d) and coupling con-
stants (J) are expressed in parts per million and hertz, respectively.
The solvent was [D6]DMSO with tetramethylsilane as the internal
standard. The 13C signal assignments were obtained from standard
gradient-selected correlated spectroscopy, heteronuclear single-
quantum coherence and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation
GC–MS method
Analyses were performed using a GC 7890A coupled to a triple-
quadrupole mass spectrometer 7000B (Agilent Technologies, Palo
Alto, CA), with a HP1 inert nonpolar column (30 m, 0.25 mm inside
diameter (i.d.), 0.25 mm film thickness). The flow rate of helium,
used as the carrier gas at constant flow, was set at 1.2 mLminÀ1
The oven temperature was set as follows: 1008C, 1 min isotherm,
.
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