The extraction and analysis of quaternary ammonium compounds in biological material by GC and GC/MS

An injection port pyrolysis method for the analysis of quaternary ammonium compounds is reported. Identification and confirmation of the analyte was accomplished by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. With minor modifications to pH used and solvent composition, a common ion-pair method of extraction of quaternary ammonium compounds from biological matrices with an iodide counter ion is described. Although the combined extraction-identification methodology was limited to neostigmine, succinylcholine, and paraquat, it should easily be applicable to any of the other compounds examined in this study.