Thermospray liquid chromatography negative ion mass spectrometry of steroid sulphate conjugates

Thermospray negative ion mass spectra of 26 steroid monosulphates, six steroid disulphates and two bile acid sulphates have been recorded. The salt-free aqueous solvent system used gave mass spectra for monosulphates which contained molecular ions only. The mass spectra of the steroid disulphates and bile acid sulphates were more complex and showed a dependence on vaporizer temperature. Selected ion monitoring of molecular ions indicated that as little as 100 pg of these compounds could be detected. A gradient elution high-performance liquid chromatographic system has been developed and applied to the separation of the individual components of a mixture of 12 steroid monosulphates and detection by thermospray liquid chromatography negative ion mass spectrometry.