A validated method for the analysis of sugars and sugar alcohols related to explosives via liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with post-column addition

The analysis of eleven sugars and sugar alcohols was performed via liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. A method for the separation of the sugars and sugar alcohols, with the specific emphasis on the separation of the isomeric pair sorbitol/mannitol, was developed. The method was validated, with the following studies included: limit of detection, stability, interference, and ionization suppression. The limits of detection ranged from 9.2x10^-3 mM for maltitol up to 2.3 mM for erythrose (3.2 ppm up to 2.8 x10² ppm). The sugars and sugar alcohols were tested at low and high concentrations over 5 days for their stability. Most of the sugars were stable for at least two days at the high concentration, while 6 were stable at the low concentration indicating the need to analyze promptly. An interference study was conducted with nitrated sugars present, which may be present in the forensic application for which the method is intended. There was no interference observed from either mannitol hexanitrate (MHN) or erythritol tetranitrate (ETN). Finally, the effect of a sample collection matrix was evaluated for its potential to either suppress or enhance the analytical signal from the sugars and sugar alcohols. There was no significant enhancement/suppression observed, at high or low concentration, for any analyte except fructose. A field trial was made of forensic samples which demonstrated the potential of the procedure. The method was successfully used for the analysis of six post-blast samples, which indicated the presence of at least one sugar/sugar alcohol in five of those samples.