Confirmation of clorsulon residues in cattle kidney by capillary gas chromatography-negative-ion chemicalionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

A confirmatory assay for residues of the anthelmintic agent clorsulon [4-amino-6-(trichloroethenyl)-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide] in cattle kidney tissue has been developed. The assay involves isolation of a drug-containing fraction by solvent extraction, methylation of the analyte, and fused-silica capillary column gas chromatography—negative-ion chemical-ionization mass spectrometry of the pentamethyl derivative of clorsulon. The intensities of four negative ions [m/z 406 and 408 (trichloro species) and m/z 413 and 415 (dichloro species)] are monitored. Confirmation of the presence of drug in an analyte requires that all four ions appear at the appropriate retention time with their intensity ratios within 10–15% of those arising from analysis of the reference standard, methylated clorsulon; the lower limit of detection is 3 ppb. Quantification of the drug is based on the intensity of the m/z 406 ion. Identification and quantification of residues by the gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric assay gave results in good agreement with those obtained with an electron-capture gas chromatographic assay.