GC-MS Screen for the Presence of Melamine and Cyanuric Acid

GC-MS Screen for the Presence of Melamine and Cyanuric Acid
(formerly titled GC-MS Screen for the Presence of Melamine)

(Adapted from FDA/ORA Forensic Chemistry Center SOP T015)
Title Revised April 25, 2007

PURPOSE:

This procedure provides a general guide for the sample preparation and analysis of wheat gluten and pet food matrices for melamine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.  This procedure is designed to screen the TMS derivative of a methanol extract of the sample and it incorporates instrumental parameters which permit 10.5 minute run times.

SCOPE:

This procedure is applicable to dry wheat gluten, dry pet food, and wet “cuts and gravy” type pet food.  This procedure involves extractions in methanol and therefore preselects compounds which are soluble or partially soluble in methanol.  Due to solubility limitations of melamine in methanol, this method is intended to be a qualitative screen only.

RESPONSIBILITY:

It is the responsibility of the analyst to note any modifications to this procedure in the worksheet.

DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

TMS – trimethylsilyl

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS:

Accepted safety measures should be employed when working with chemicals and pressurized gases.

EQUIPMENT:

Agilent 5975 GC-MS system equipped with a 30m DB-5MS column (or equivalent)
Reacti-Vap – Evaporating/Heating Module

REAGENTS:

Methanol: HPLC grade
Pyridine: Certified A.C.S.
BSTFA with 1% TMCS: bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 1%
Trimethylchlorosilane (e.g. Sylon BFT, Supelco)

QC ELEMENTS:

A blank should be run at the onset of each analysis and then randomly throughout the analysis if there is suspicion of carryover.  A fortified sample (see Part C) should be analyzed with each set of samples to demonstrate effective system performance.

PROCEDURES (PROCESS DETAILS):

This procedure may be used with the GC operating in either the splitless or split (1:20) mode.  Generally, the splitless mode is advisable for samples where more sensitivity is required.   The split mode is suitable where sample availability is not limited and the recommended amount can be prepared (~0.5 g sample preparations).

A. Methanol Extract (Underivatized Extract):

Unknown Wheat Gluten/Pet Food Samples:  Transfer approximately 0.500 g of the sample into a 20 ml scintillation vial and add 5 ml methanol.  Vortex briefly to mix, then sonicate for 10 minutes.  Centrifuge for approximately 6 minutes at 4500 rpm and then filter the liquid extract into a GC vial using a 0.45 µm nylon filter disc.  If sample is limited, reduce extraction volumes and sample weights proportionately and analyze in the splitless mode.  Duplicate preparations are recommended.

B. Trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives:

Melamine is detected as the 3-TMS derivative with a nominal molecular weight of 342 amu.  The retention time of the 3-TMS derivative is approximately 7.1 minutes in the GC-MS chromatogram (see Figures 1-4).

Blanks: Transfer 40µL of methanol used to extract the sample to an autosampler vial.  Evaporate to dryness under a stream of dry air using a Reacti-Vap module set at approximately 70°C.  Add 200 µl pyridine and 200 µl BSTFA, vortex briefly to mix, and incubate at approximately 70°C for 30 minutes. 

Known Samples: In general, if working with a known concentration of analyte (e.g. standards), appropriate dilutions should be made with pyridine/BSTFA to achieve an on column concentration no greater than 100 µg/mL.  After calculating suitable dilutions, transfer an appropriate amount of the standard solution to an autosampler vial.  Evaporate to dryness under a stream of dry air using a Reacti-Vap module set at approximately 70°C.  Add 200 µl pyridine and 200 µl BSTFA, vortex briefly to mix, and incubate at approximately 70°C for 30 minutes. 

Unknown Samples: Transfer 40 µl of the methanol extract prepared for analysis in section A into an autosampler vial.  Evaporate to dryness under a stream of dry air using a Reacti-Vap module set at approximately 70°C.  Add 200 µl pyridine and 200 µl BSTFA, vortex briefly to mix, and incubate at approximately 70°C for 30 minutes.

C. Sample Fortification:

This method was successfully applied to detect melamine in wet and dry pet food composites (Figure 2) and dry wheat glutens (Figure 3).  Based on HPLC-UV results, this method was able to detect melamine levels down to 0.01% (by weight) in official FDA samples using ~0.500 g samples with TMS derivatization and splitless injection. 

Uncontaminated wheat gluten and pet food composites were spiked with various levels of melamine and taken through the method using ~0.500 g samples and splitless injection.  The method successfully detected melamine (as the 3TMS derivative) at 14 micrograms/g in the wheat gluten and at 7 micrograms/g in the pet food composite.  At low spike levels, extracted ion chromatograms were used to verify the presence of four major ions of the melamine-TMS mass spectrum (m/z=342, 327, 171, and 99).  Sample fortification experiments to demonstrate successful detection of melamine in the specific matrix of interest should be performed by the individual laboratories.

D. Standard Preparation:

Melamine is sparingly soluble in methanol and slightly more soluble in methanol/water mixtures.  Up to ~1.5 mg/mL of melamine standard can be dissolved in a 50/50 mixture of methanol/water with sonication for 30 minutes.  If more concentrated solutions of melamine are desired, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) may be used as a primary solvent followed by methanol or acetonitrile for serial dilutions.

Note: Due to the presence of water in the standard solution, dry down times for the   melamine standard on the Reacti-Vap will be increased.

E. Instrument Parameters:

F. Peak Identification:

The mass spectrum of the 3-TMS derivative of melamine (Figure 1) exhibits the molecular ion at m/z=342, a methyl group loss at m/z=327, and significant ions at m/z=171, 99, and 73.  The standard of melamine should be prepared (and TMS-derivatized) and analyzed along with the sample preps on the same day to confirm the identification.  Figures 2a and 2b are examples of a GC-MS chromatogram of melamine contaminated pet food.  Additional peaks present in the TIC are consistent with TMS derivatives of phosphate and various sugars.  Figure 3 is an example of a GC-MS chromatogram of melamine contaminated wheat gluten.

Figure 1

Figure 2a

Figure 2b

 Figure 3

Web page updated by hd - April 25, 2007, 12:54 PM ET