Analytical Sciences

Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Method for Simultaneous Detection of Nine Alkaloids in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by QuEChERS Sample Preparation

Xintong LI, Fang LIU, Huifang WANG, Fan HE, Rui YANG, and Mingqin ZHAO

College of Tobacco Science/National Tobacco Cultivation & Physiology & Biochemistry Research Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

One method based on QuEChERS sample preparation is presented in this study, which leads to simultaneously detect nine alkaloids in tobacco and tobacco products. Nicotine, nornicotine, myosmine, N-methyl anabasine, β-nicotyrine, anabasine, anatabine, isonicotenine and cotinine can all be found in fresh tobacco leaves, cigars, Virginia-type and blended-type cigarettes. The samples were purified via a certain proportion of adsorbents consisting of anhydrous magnesium sulfate, PSA and carbon after extracting, then centrifuged and filtered before analyzing by GC-MS. The matrix effects were all among 88 – 105%. The limit of detection of all were within the range of 0.0065 – 0.1509 μg/g and limit of quantification were among 0.0217 – 0.5031 μg/g. The recovery rates were higher than 89%. This is the first time that the QuEChERS sample preparation method has been applied for tobacco alkaloids, where more varieties of alkaloids could be quantified regarding sensitivity and reproducibility.

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