Quantitative determination of amphetamine-type stimulants in sewage and urine by hybrid monolithic column solid-phase microextraction coupled with UPLC-QTRAP MS/MS

Talanta. 2024 Mar 1:269:125437. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125437. Epub 2023 Nov 22.

Abstract

A needle-solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method based on hybrid monolithic column (HMC) was proposed for simultaneous separation and extraction of seven amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) (amphetamine, methamphetamine, cathinone, methcathinone, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine), combining with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometer (UPLC-QTRAP MS/MS). Thiol functionalized HMC (T-HMC) showed high extraction efficiency and excellent elution results towards target analytes, among three kinds of single/bi-functionalized HMCs. Various parameters of SPME operation and analytical performance were investigated systematically. The adsorption mechanism of T-HMC to ATSs was also discussed and explained as a mixed mode of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the proposed T-HMC needle-SPME-UPLC-QTRAP MS/MS method was rapid and convenient with good accuracy, low sample consumption, high sensitivity and strong anti-interference ability. This method was successfully applied to quantitative determination of seven trace ATSs in complex sewage and urine samples. In view of abundant types of HMCs, the needle-SPME based on functional HMC also had the potential to selectively separating and enriching other tract new psychoactive substances in complex matrices, and could provide a reliable tool for drug monitoring, especially in applications for forensic analysis and drug abuse.

Keywords: Amphetamine; Hybrid monolithic column; Sewage; Solid-phase microextraction; UPLC-QTRAP MS/MS; Urine.

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamine*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Sewage
  • Solid Phase Microextraction
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

  • Amphetamine
  • Sewage
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants