title: Method for determination of levoglucosan in snow and ice at trace concentration levels using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.
abstract: A method is developed for determination of levoglucosan at trace concentration levels in complex matrices of snow and ice samples. This method uses an injection mixture comprising acetonitrile and melt sample at a ratio of 50/50 (v/v). Samples are analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography system combined with triple tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Levoglucosan is analyzed on BEH Amide column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 um), and a Z-spray electrospray ionization source is used for levoglucosan ionization. The polyether sulfone filter is selected for filtrating insoluble particles due to less impact on levoglucosan. The matrix effect is evaluated by using a standard addition method. During the method validation, limit of detection (LOD), linearity, recovery, repeatability and reproducibility were evaluated using standard addition method. The LOD of this method is 0.11 ng mL(-1). Recoveries vary from 91.2% at 0.82 ng mL(-1) to 99.3% at 4.14 ng mL(-1). Repeatability ranges from 17.9% at a concentration of 0.82 ng mL(-1) to 2.8% at 4.14 ng mL(-1). Reproducibility ranges from 15.1% at a concentration of 0.82 ng mL(-1) to 1.9% at 4.14 ng mL(-1). This method can be implemented using less than 0.50 mL sample volume in low and middle latitude regions like the Tibetan Plateau.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: youchao@itpcas.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Baiqing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Shaopeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005947:Glucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D007053:Ice / Q000032:analysis; D046448:Ice Cover / Q000737:chemistry*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D012914:Snow / Q000737:chemistry*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D007053:Ice; C014989:1,6-anhydro-beta-glucopyranose; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Biomass burning; Ice core; Levoglucosan; Tibetan glaciers; UPLC-MS/MS; matrix effect