Evaluation of thin layer chromatography—Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry: Application to the determination of midazolam intoxication by use of 3-glycidoxypropyl-treated thin layer chromatographic plates

Abstract

The effectiveness of 3-glycidoxypropyl-treated thin layer chromatographic plates in the determination of midazolam intoxication has been studied by thin layer chromatography/fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Silica plates treated with 3-glycidoxypropyldimethylethoxysilane were used for the measurement of their physical composition and for chemical analysis. From elemental carbon analysis data, the maximum number of bonded 3-glycidoxypropyl surface groups per gram was calculated to be 0.417×1021. Midazolam in human serum from patients suffering from intoxication could be separated on a 3-glycidoxypropyl-treated thin layer chromatographic plate with chloroform as eluent. After applying the technique of diffused spot condensation on the 3-glycidoxypropyl-treated thin layer chromatographic plate, the established thin layer chromatography/fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry method was used for the identification of midazolam intoxication, and improved the detection limit for midazolam in the serum of an intoxication patient by 30 times.