GC-MS method for determining faecal sterols as biomarkers of human and pastoral animal presence in freshwater sediments

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
Dario BattistelCarlo Barbante

Abstract

In order to determine sterols and stanols in freshwater sediments to reconstruct the past presence of humans and pastoral animals, we developed an analytical method based on pressurised liquid extraction (PLE), clean-up performed using solid phase extraction (SPE) and sterol determination using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. PLE extraction conditions were optimised using dichloromethane (DCM) and DCM/methanol mixtures. Clean-up was performed with 2 g silica SPE cartridges, and the concentrated extracts were eluted with 70 mL DCM. Extraction yield was evaluated using an in-house reference material spiked with (13)C-labelled cholesterol and aged for 10 days. In comparison with pre-extraction, where the sediment is extracted and then spiked with a known analyte concentration, this approach preserves the original composition of the sediment. DCM and DCM/methanol mixtures resulted in high extraction yields ranging from 86 to 92 % with good reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD) 5-8 %). PLE extraction yields obtained with DCM as the extracting solvent were about 1.5 times higher than extractions using an ultrasonic bath. The solvent extraction mixture and matrix composition strongly affected the so...Continue Reading

References

Sep 1, 1978·Steroids·A M WardroperR J Morris
Apr 6, 2002·Environment International·Ian D BullRichard P Evershed
Feb 6, 2008·Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry : RCM·Wai Him KwokJenny K Y Wong
Nov 17, 2009·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Sandro FroehnerRaquel Fernandes Martins
Nov 12, 2010·The Science of the Total Environment·C H VaneG E A Swann
Dec 6, 2011·The Science of the Total Environment·Christian G Daughton
Jun 1, 1994·Environmental Science & Technology·H TakadaB W Tripp
Nov 28, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Robert M D'AnjouDavid B Finkelstein
Dec 30, 2014·The Science of the Total Environment·Morgane DerrienSantiago Capella Vizcaino
Feb 19, 2015·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Talat SaeedHameeda Abdullah

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 7, 2021·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Sheeana GangadooJames Chapman
Oct 31, 2021·Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·Sarah SchlagWalter Vetter

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, that can lead to muscular or electrical dysfunction of the heart. It is often an irreversible disease that is associated with a poor prognosis. There are different causes and classifications of cardiomyopathies. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to this disease.