The simultaneous quantitation of ten amino acids in soil extracts by mass fragmentography

Abstract

A specific and sensitive method for the identification and simultaneous quantitation by mass fragmentography of 10 of the amino acids present in soil has been developed. The technique uses a computer-driven quadrupole mass spectrometer, and a commercial preparation of deuterated amino acids is used as internal standard for purposes of quantitation. The results obtained are comparable with those from an amino acid analyser. In the quadrupole mass spectrometer-computer system used, up to 25 preselected ions may be monitored sequentially. This allows a maximum of 12 different amino acids (one specific ion in each of the undeuterated and deuterated amino acid spectra) to be quantitated. The method is relatively rapid (analysis time of approximately 1 hr) and is capable of the quantitation of nanogram quantities of amino acids.