Fast analysis of caffeine in beverages and drugs by paper spray tandem mass spectrometry

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2016 May;408(14):3783-7. doi: 10.1007/s00216-016-9468-1. Epub 2016 Mar 22.

Abstract

A simple and fast method based on paper spray mass spectrometry for the determination of caffeine in commercial beverages and drugs has been developed; the analyses were carried out in MRM mode, monitoring the transitions m/z 195 → m/z 138 for caffeine and m/z 198 → m/z 140 for the labeled internal standard. To verify the reliability of the proposed approach, a spiked sample (soda drink and paracetamol tablet) with a known amount of caffeine has been prepared and analyzed by PS-MS, providing accuracy values about 100 %; the LOQ and LOD values were calculated at 1.2 and 1.6 μg/mL, respectively. Both beverages and drugs were also analyzed with the classic analytical method based on LC-UV measurements, showing consistent results between the two approaches, thus confirming the reliability of the developed ambient MS determination. Graphical Abstract The assay of caffeine by paper mass spectrometry.

Keywords: Caffeine; Mass spectrometry; Multiple reaction monitoring; Paper spray; Quantitative assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Beverages / analysis*
  • Caffeine / analysis*
  • Limit of Detection
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / analysis*
  • Reference Standards
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Caffeine