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Simultaneous quantitative analysis of isobars by tandem mass spectrometry from unresolved chromatographic peaks
Author(s) -
Kushnir Mark M.,
Rockwood Alan L.,
Nelson Gordon J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.475
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9888
pISSN - 1076-5174
DOI - 10.1002/jms.619
Subject(s) - chemistry , isobar , chromatography , analytical chemistry (journal) , mass spectrometry , ion , matrix (chemical analysis) , tandem mass spectrometry , mass spectrum , succinic anhydride , organic chemistry , nucleon , physics , atomic physics
Abstract A method was developed for the simultaneous quantitation of isobars from unresolved chromatographic peaks. The method is based on differences in branching ratios of ion abundances in their tandem mass spectra and an assumption that the product ion mass spectra of a mixture can be considered as a linear combination of the spectra of individual constituents. We present analytical equations and a matrix‐based approach for deconvoluting the concentration of individual components from the total peak intensity for two and three isobars and also a matrix‐based generalization to any number of compounds. The feasibility of the simultaneous analysis of mixtures containing two compounds was assessed. The approach was evaluated for the analysis of structural isomers of methylmalonic and succinic acids in human plasma and urine samples for a group of 270 samples. The linear regression equation, standard error and correlation coefficient for the agreement with a traditional method utilizing chromatographic separation of the isomers were y = 0.999 x − 0.005, 0.024 µmol l −1 , and 0.985, respectively. The utility of a spectral contrast angle as a predictor of analysis feasibility was evaluated. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.