Determination of mercapturic acids in urine by solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

A novel method for the determination of five kinds of mercapturic acids, found in urine as metabolites of alkylbenzenes, based on liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is described. A solid-phase extraction procedure was used for the extraction of the mercapturic acids from urine and the separation was performed on a reversed-phase C₃₀ column. The detection limits were in the range 2.4–3.2 ng ml⁻¹.