The determination of traces of fluoroacetic acid by extractive alkylation, pentafluorobenzylation and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(00)83609-0Get rights and content

Abstract

A method is described for the extraction and determination of nanogram amounts of the highly toxic fluoroacetic acid in plant samples. The acid is extracted by ammonia solution and purified by repeated ether extractions. The fluoroacetate is then transferred to dichloromethane by using tetrahexylammonium as counter-ion, and finally derivatized by pentafluorobenzyl bromide. The determination is completed by capillary gas chromatography and single-ion monitoring mass spectrometry. Small amounts of fluoroacetate were found in many plant samples, including tea. The limit of detection was about 0.005 μg g−1, the reproducibility about ±9% and the recovery of added fluoroacetate 89 ± 6%.

References (18)

  • B. Vickery et al.

    Phytochemistry

    (1973)
  • H.M. Stevens et al.

    Forensic Sci.

    (1976)
  • Y. L'Emeillat et al.

    J. Chromatogr.

    (1981)
  • R.A. Peters et al.

    Nature (London)

    (1960)
  • L.R. Murray et al.

    Aust. J. Sci.

    (1961)
  • M.M. de Oliveira

    Experientia

    (1963)
  • T. Vartiainen et al.

    Kemia-Kemi

    (1980)
  • M.H. Yu et al.

    Environ. Sci. Technoh

    (1970)
  • G.W. Miller et al.

    Fluoride

    (1973)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (34)

  • Fluoroacetate distribution, response to fluoridation, and synthesis in juvenile Gastrolobium bilobum plants

    2022, Phytochemistry
    Citation Excerpt :

    This pattern implies that accumulation has evolved independently in multiple lineages and hence probably depends on a facile metabolic innovation, possibly always the same one. This inference also fits with the trace levels of fluoroacetate in many plants that are not closely related to accumulators (Peters and Shorthouse, 1972; Vartiainen and Kauranen, 1984). If many, if not all, plants make a little fluoroacetate, it could be an easy leap for an accumulator to make a lot.

  • Fluoroacetate

    2020, Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Fluoroacetate

    2015, Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Agents: Second Edition
  • Fluoroacetate

    2009, Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Fast detection of fluoroacetamide in body fluid using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after solid-phase microextraction

    2004, Journal of Chromatography B: Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text