Sensitive Analysis of Nitroguanidine in Aqueous and Soil Matrices by LC-MS

Abstract

Nitroguanidine, a widely used nitramine explosive, is an environmental contaminant that is refractory, persistent, highly mobile in soils and aquifers, and yet under-researched. Nitroguanidine determination in water and soil poses an analytical challenge due its high hydrophilicity, low volatility, charge neutrality over a wide pH range, and low proton affinity which results in low electrospray interface (ESI)-MS sensitivity. A sensitive method for the determination of nitroguanidine in aqueous and soil matrices was developed. The method is based on reduction by zinc in acidic solution, hydrophobization by derivatization, preconcentration on C18 cartridge, and LC-MS quantification. The demonstrated limit of detection (LOD) reaches 5 ng/L and 22 ng/g in water and soil, respectively. Analysis of a contaminated site demonstrates that it is possible to map a contamination plume that extends over 1 km from the source of the contamination.

A novel electrochemical sensor for nitroguanidine determination using a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polyvinylpyrrolidone

“…16 For this reason, several methods have been developed for the quantification of NG in environmental samples such as acidimetry or alkalimetry (in anhydrous solvents), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), and fluorescence and chemiluminescence spectroscopy. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Currently, there are no standard methods for making an accurate analysis of insensitive munition compounds (such as NG) in environmental matrices. 29 Most of these methods are complicated and relatively expensive, time-consuming, not very sensitive (due to the thermal instability and high polarity of these compounds), and lack specificity.…”

Determination of N‐nitrosamines by automated dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction integrated with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

“…N-Nitrosamines (NAs) have been studied for more than 100 years [1]. In 1954, Barnes et al [2] reported the toxic effects of NAs and classified them as potent human carcinogens [3,4]. NAs are produced by a reaction of amines or their derivatives with nitrosating agents such as nitrous acid, nitrites, or nitrogen oxides [5,6].…”

Top–down versus bottom–up oxidation of a neonicotinoid pesticide by OH radicals

“…An example of such compounds is the neonicotinoid (NN) pesticides, which were developed in the early 1990 s and which have become the most widely used pesticides globally where they are applied as seed coatings and to soils and as foliar sprays ( 1 , 2 ). NNs have been detected in runoff into rivers and lakes, as well as in soil, dust particles, wildflowers, pollen, nectar, and honey ( 2 – 7 ). Not surprisingly, they are also detected in food ( 8 , 9 ), drinking water ( 10 ), and human blood and urine ( 11 , 12 ).…”