Determination of fluoroacetate in biological matrixes as the dodecyl ester.
A new method for the quantitative determination of fluoroacetate in biological samples was applied to a number of avian samples. Fluoroacetate is isolated as its potassium salt by ion-exchange chromatography and directly converted to its dodecyl ester, using a novel derivatization procedure. The ester is quantified by capillary gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector for the range 1.0-10.0 micrograms/g and by selected ion monitoring GC/mass spectrometry for the range 0.01-1.00 microgram/g. Recoveries from 1 g chicken muscle were about 80%. The method was applied to the determination of fluoroacetate in the crop, stomach, liver, heart, intestine, and breast muscle of 5 Zebra finches (Peophila guttata) that had been fed millet containing 9 micrograms/g of sodium fluoroacetate. Despite a wide variation in dose, the levels in organs and tissues were approximately 1 microgram/g except for heart tissue which was about 2 micrograms/g. The presence of interfering peaks at low levels necessitated the use of selected ion monitoring GC/MS when sample weights were less than 1 g or when levels were less than 1 microgram/g. Samples can be analyzed within hours of receipt; therefore, the method is suitable for routine use in a diagnostic laboratory.
Burke
D G
DG
State Chemistry Laboratory, Melbourne, Australia.
Lew
D K
DK
Cominos
X
X
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005463:Fluoroacetates / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis
D005463:Fluoroacetates