A tandem mass spectrometric study of selected characteristic flavonoids

A study of 14 flavonoids, monohydroxy- to pentahydroxy-substituted, has bee n carried out using electrospray ionization coupled with high performance l iquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The flavonoids are of in creasing interest due to their biological activity and, in particular, thos e isoflavones that are phytoestrogens. This study is presented in two parts . First, the product ion mass spectra of [M - H](-) of the 14 flavonoids an d of [M + H](+) of naringenin and galangin are discussed broadly in terms o f five common fragmentation processes. Second, the identification of genist ein in wood pulp, in untreated waste water, and in treated (or final) efflu ent from a wood pulp mill is described. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.