Identification of Phthalate Esters Using the SMCI Method

Introduction

Commercially available foods and beverages come into contact with a variety of substances during their production and storage process. The materials in contact with foods leach into the products and could have an impact on the health of consumers. Phthalate esters, for example, are used as plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride. They are a concern with respect to endocrine disruption effects, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and tissue damage. Phthalate esters share the same basic structure, and their mass spectra are similar when the electron ionization (EI) method is used, which can make the identification of target phthalate esters difficult. Conventionally, in such cases, the molecular weight is confirmed via the positive chemical ionization (PCI) method, using methane, isobutane, and other flammable, high pressure gases. In contrast, if the use of flammable, high pressure gases is problematic, the molecular weight can be confirmed via the solvent mediated chemical ionization (SMCI) method using organic solvents. This article reports on the results of an analysis of phthalate esters using the SMCI method.

June 25, 2023 GMT