Development of a fritless packed column for capillary electrochromatography-mass spectrometry

A novel procedure was developed for the fabrication of a fritless packed column for the coupling of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) to mass spectrometry (MS). The process involved the formation of internal tapers on two separate columns. Once the internal tapers are formed and the columns are packed, the untapered ends of each column were joined together by a commercially available connector. Several advantages of the fritless columns are described. First, the design used here eventually eliminates the need for any frits thus reducing the possibility of bubble formation seen with fritted packed columns. In addition, this is the first report in which the internal tapers are formed at both the inlet and outlet column ends making the fritless CEC-MS column more robust compared to only one report with externally tapered counterparts. Second, a comparison of internally tapered single frit packed CEC-MS (previously developed in our laboratory) column versus fritless CEC-MS column reported here shows that the latter provides better efficiency, suggesting no dead volume with equally good sensitivity and chiral resolution of (±)-aminoglutethimide. The fritless column procedure is universal and was used to prepare a series of columns with a variety of commercially available packing material (mixed mode strong cation exchange, SCX; mixed mode strong anion exchange, SAX; C-18) for the separation and MS detection of short chain non-chromophoric polar amines, long chain nonchromophic anionic surfactant as well as oligomers of non-chromophoric non-ionic surfactants, respectively. The fritless columns showed good intra-day repeatability and inter-day reproducibility of retention times, chiral and achiral resolutions and peak areas. Very satisfactory column-to-column and operator-to-operator reproducibility was demonstrated.     

Reviews on recent trends in chromatography/mass spectrometry coupling. Part IV. Reasons why supercritical fluid chromatography is not so easily coupled with mass spectrometry as originally assessed

Summary When SFC was rediscovered in the early 1980s, it was frequently estimated that a strong driving force to its development would be the ease of devising a simple SFC/MS interface. This was believed to be easily achieved if analytical conditions were limited to capillary SFC columns as a general separation tool, and to the choice of neat CO₂ as the unique supercritical fluid. The low flow rate of mobile phase delivered by capillary columns was easy to accommodate by the vacuum equipment of standard mass spectrometers, and the specific physical properties of CO₂ made possible solute ionization by different ion-molecule reactions, especially charge exchange ionization. This approach has lived up to all of its promises. The major causes of the observed mismatch are the large variations of the MS source pressure as a result of the CO₂ pressure gradient at the SFC column inlet, the low sensitivity of charge exchange ionization at these high MS source pressures, and the inability to handle polar and nonvolatile molecules. Adaptation of LC/MS interfaces, such as the thermospray interface or the particle beam interface, to SFC/MS conditions was a step forward, but these devices have their own limitations. Alternative methods to direct SFC/MS coupling have been investigated recently. They are based on the use of packed columns rather than capillaries, and on solute ionization at atmospheric pressure rather than under a vacuum, by means of either gas-phase corona discharge ionization or liquidphase electrospray ionization. These new developments may revive research into the design of reproducible and sensitive SFC/MS systems where the number of recent studies is still low compared with other chromatography/mass spectrometry coupling studies.See [1] for part III     

Use of on-line mass spectrometric detection in capillary electrochromatography

Capillary electrochromatography (CEC) is a liquid phase analytical separation technique that is generally carried out with packed capillary columns by electroosmotically driven mobile phase at high electric field strength. The analytes are separated by virtue of the differences in their distribution between the mobile and stationary phases and, if charged in their electrophoretic mobilities as well. It is thus considered a hybrid of liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis and is expected to combine the high peak efficiency of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with the versatility and loading capacity of HPLC. This review explores the potential use of on-line mass spectrometric detection for CEC. It discusses key design issues that focus on the physical and electrical arrangement of the CEC column with respect to the electrospray orifice inlet. The salient features of the sheathless, sheath flow and liquid junction interfaces that are frequently employed while coupling a CEC column to an electrospray ionization mass spectrometry system are also highlighted. Possible configurations of the CEC column outlet that would obviate the need for pressurizing the capillary column are also presented. While coupling CEC with MS both the nature of the interface and the configuration of the column outlet will determine the optimal arrangement. The review also discusses bandspreading that occurs when a connecting tube is employed to transfer mobile phase from the column outlet to the atmospheric region of the electrospray source with a concomitant loss in sensitivity. Selected examples that highlight the potential of this technique for a wide range of applications are also presented.     

Recent advances in capillary electrophoresis‐mass spectrometry: Instrumentation,methodology and applications

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) offers fast and high‐resolution separation of charged analytes from small injection volumes. Coupled to mass spectrometry (MS), it represents a powerful analytical technique providing (exact) mass information and enables molecular characterization based on fragmentation. Although hyphenation of CE and MS is not straightforward, much emphasis has been placed on enabling efficient ionization and user‐friendly coupling. Though several interfaces are now commercially available, research on more efficient and robust interfacing with nano‐electrospray ionization (ESI), matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP) continues with considerable results. At the same time, CE‐MS has been used in many fields, predominantly for the analysis of proteins, peptides and metabolites. This review belongs to a series of regularly published articles, summarizing 248 articles covering the time between June 2016 and May 2018. Latest developments on hyphenation of CE with MS as well as instrumental developments such as two‐dimensional separation systems with MS detection are mentioned. Furthermore, applications of various CE‐modes including capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE), capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) and capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) coupled to MS in biological, pharmaceutical and environmental research are summarized.     

Use of a fritless dual tapered column and a low flow interface for capillary electrochromatography-mass spectrometry

To avoid problems associated with the use of sintered frits to retain packing material, tapered columns were investigated for use with capillary electrochromatography-mass spectrometry (CEC-MS) analysis. Taking the advantage that negatively charged stationary phase particles have a net velocity directed towards the buffer reservoir (inlet) over a wide range in pH, a fritless CEC column with a single taper tip was prepared for CEC-MS analysis. During CEC-MS analysis, the tapered end was immersed in the buffer reservoir and the unmodified end was pointed toward the ionization source. For better sensitivity, this single tapered CEC column was coupled to ESI/MS using a low flow sheath liquid interface. With this setup, occasional blockage of the ESI sprayer by stationary phase particles was observed. In addition, significant dead volume was observed because the unmodified tip could not be inserted into the very end of the sprayer of the low flow sheath liquid interface. To circumvent these problems, a dual tapered CEC column was prepared. This fritless dual tapered column CEC-MS approach alleviated the problems of frit, sprayer blockage and extensive dead volume.     

Analysis of phospholipase A2 glycosylation patterns from venom of individual bees by capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using an ion trap mass spectrometer

A method based on tryptic digestion, ultrafiltration and capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry (CE/MS) has been developed for the analysis of the glycosylation pattern in the phospholipase A2 (PLA) of individual honeybees. Without reducing the disulfide bonds, PLA was digested with trypsin and filtered with a 3 kDa molecular weight (MW) cut-off membrane. With this procedure, the glycopeptides could be isolated from the nonglycosylated peptides. After tryptic digestion and ultrafiltration, the disulfide bonds were reduced before analysis by CE. To reduce the adsorption, CE separation was performed on successive multiple ionic-polymer (SMIL) polybrene (PB) coated capillary columns. The SMIL-PB columns allowed partial separation of the glycopeptides and eight glycopeptides were identified by on-line coupling of CE with electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry. The analysis of phospholipase A2 from the venom of individual bees indicated that the variation and relative abundances of different glycopeptides were similar between the younger and the older bees.     

Capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry and its application to the analysis of biological mixtures

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) mass spectrometry (MS), with its ability to separate compounds present in extremely small volume samples rapidly, with high separation efficiency, and with compound identification capability based on molecular weight, is an extremely valuable analytical technique for the analysis of complex biological mixtures. The highest sensitivities and separation efficiencies are usually achieved by using narrow capillaries (5-50 micro m i.d.) and by using sheathless CE-to-MS interfaces. The difficulties in CE-to-MS interfacing and the limited loadability of these narrow columns, however, have prevented CE-MS from becoming a widely used analytical technique. To remedy these limitations, several CE-MS interfacing techniques have recently been introduced. While electrospray ionization is the most commonly used ionization technique for interfacing CE-to-MS, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization has also been used, using both on-line and off-line techniques. Moreover, the high concentration detection limit of CE has been addressed by development of several sample concentration and sample focusing methods. In addition, a wide variety of techniques such as capillary zone electrophoresis, capillary isoelectric focusing, and on-column transient isotachophoresis have now been interfaced to MS. These advances have resulted in a rapid increase in the use of CE-MS in the analysis of complex biological mixtures. CE-MS has now been successfully applied to the analysis of a wide variety of compounds including amino acids, protein digests, protein mixtures, single cells, oligonucleotides, and various small molecules relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.     

Poly(glycidyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) based immobilized pH gradient capillary isoelectric focusing coupling with MALDI mass spectrometry for enhanced neuropeptide analysis

Herein, we report an immobilized pH gradient (IPG) capillary isoelectric focusing-matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (CIEF-MALDI MS) platform designed for the separation of complex neuropeptides. This platform features a poly(glycidyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene) (GMA-DVB)-based monolithic column for CIEF separation. Different from regular CIEF, carrier ampholytes are preimmobilized on the monolithic surface instead of being added to the sample. An off-line coupling of IPG-CIEF to MALDI MS has been established. Comparison with regular CIEF and optimizations are performed with bovine serum albumin tryptic peptides and extracted neuropeptide mixtures from crustacean Callinectes sapidus. It has been demonstrated that the separation of complex peptide mixtures in neutral and basic pH ranges can be achieved in less than 10 min with comparable separation efficiency with regular CIEF, while the MS signal is significantly enhanced when employing IPG-CIEF. Enhanced neuropeptide detection is also observed after coupling IPG-CIEF with MALDI MS.     

Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry: recent advances to the analysis of small achiral and chiral solutes

We describe here the state-of-the-art development of on-line capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) over the last two years. Technological developments included are novel designs of new interfaces and ionization sources, new capillary coatings, buffers, and micelles as well as application of various modes of CE-MS published in the recent literature. The areas of CE-MS application in analysis of small achiral and chiral solutes are covered in sections that highlight the recent advances and possibilities of each mode of CE-MS. Application areas reviewed in this paper include achiral and chiral pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, carbohydrates, and small peptides. The separation of enantiomers using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC)-MS with molecular micelles and capillary electrochromatography (CEC)-MS using pack tapered columns appears to provide good tolerance to electrospray stability for routine on-line CE-MS. These two modes seem to be very suitable for sensitive detection of chiral pharmaceuticals in biological samples, but their use will probably increase in the near future. Overall, it seems that one mode of CE-MS, in particular capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE)-MS, is now recognized as established technique for analysis of small charged solutes, but other modes, such as MEKC-MS and CEC-MS, are still within a period of development in terms of both MS-compatible pseudostationary phases and columns as well as applications.     

On-line coupling of electrokinetic chromatography and mass spectrometry

The use of pseudostationary phases (PSPs) in capillary electrophoresis provides powerful separation systems of high efficiency, selectivity and flexibility. Such electrokinetic chromatographic (EKC) systems are particularly useful for chiral analysis or for the analysis of samples containing a broad range of compounds. As the availability of mass and/or structural data on (unknown) sample constituents is increasingly important, the on-line coupling of EKC and mass spectrometry (MS) has gained attention. However, commonly used PSPs, such as micelles and cyclodextrines, may strongly interfere with electrospray ionization (ESI), making on-line EKC–MS quite a challenging task. This review covers the various approaches that have been proposed and developed to combine EKC and MS. A distinction is made between methodologies that prevent the PSP from entering the MS system, and methodologies that allow introduction of PSPs into the ion source. Various approaches such as partial filling of the separation capillary with PSP, use of reverse-migrating PSPs, employment of volatile PSPs, and alternative ionization modes, are outlined. Specific applications are described and overview tables are provided. It is concluded that there is no general solution for EKC–MS available yet, but new ionization techniques like atmospheric pressure photoionization may offer attractive perspectives for achieving full compatibility.     

Multidimensional capillary array liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem mass spectrometry for high-throughput proteomic analysis

A two-dimensional capillary array liquid chromatography system coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) was developed for high-throughput comprehensive proteomic analysis, in which one strong cation-exchange (SCX) capillary chromatographic column was used as the first separation dimension and 10 parallel reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) capillary columns were used as the second separation dimension. A novel multi-channel interface was designed and fabricated for on-line coupling of the SCX to RPLC column array system. Besides the high resolution based on the combination of SCX and RPLC separation, the developed new system provided the most rapid two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) separation. Ten three-way micro-splitter valves used as stop-and-flow switches in transferring SCX fractions onto RPLC columns. In addition, the three-way valves also acted as mixing chambers of RPLC effluent with matrix. The system enables on-line mixing of the LC array effluents with matrix solution during the elution and directly depositing the analyte/matrix mixtures on MALDI plates from the tenplexed channels in parallel through an array of capillary tips. With the novel system, thousands of peptides were well separated and deposited on MALDI plates only in 150min for a complex proteome sample. Compared with common 2D-LC system, the parallel 2D-LC system showed about 10-times faster analytical procedure. In combination with a high throughput tandem time of flight mass spectrometry, the system was proven to be very effective for proteome analysis by analyzing a complicated sample, soluble proteins extracted from a liver cancer tissue, in which over 1202 proteins were identified.     

Coupling of capillary electrochromatography to coordination ion spray mass spectrometry, a novel detection method.

Miniaturized separation techniques such as capillary electrochromatography (CEC), pressurized capillary electrochromatography (pCEC) and capillary high performance liquid chromatography (CHPLC) have been coupled to a new detection technique: coordination ion spray mass spectrometry (CIS-MS). Electrospray ionization (ESI) has found widespread applications in mass spectrometry (MS) for the analysis of polar compounds such as peptides or nucleotides. However, for weakly polar or nonpolar substances, ESI-MS yields poor sensitivity since, in the absence of basic or acidic groups, protonation or deprotonation is not possible. CIS is a universal ionization technique capable of detecting these compounds. Through the addition of a central complexing ion, charged coordination compounds are formed, enabling the detection with good sensitivity. Using the coaxial sheath flow interface commonly employed in CE-MS coupling, we were able to separate and detect various important natural compounds such as unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters, vitamins D2 and D3, and four different estrogens. A central ion solution of 100 microg/mL AgNO3 in water was used as sheath flow liquid, resulting in the formation of positively charged coordination compounds.     

Rapid and high resolution capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and SFC/MS of trichothecene mycotoxins

The potential application of capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and SFC/mass spectrometry (SFC/MS) for the separation and analysis of mycotoxins of the trichothecene group was examined. Trichothecenes present significant analytical problems for both gas and liquid chromatography with a major difficulty for the latter being the lack of sufficiently sensitive and selective detectors. Supercritical carbon dioxide mobile phases at temperatures up to 100 degrees C were used with deactivated fused silica columns coated with crosslinked stationary phases. Separations were obtained under pressure ramped conditions using long (15 m) 50-micron i.d. columns for several trichothecenes (diacetoxyscirpenol, deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin) and related higher molecular weight macrocyclic (roridin and verrucarin) trichothecenes. In addition, new rapid pressure programming techniques with short (less than 2m) 25- to 50-micron i.d. capillary columns were used to obtain fast separations in as little as 1 min. SFC/MS with ammonia chemical ionization provided high selectivity and sensitive detection (with approximately 1-pg detection limits) for trichothecene mixtures. The extension to complex sample matrices is discussed and the application of selective MS/MS detection is demonstrated.     

Use of small diameter WCOT columns for ultra-high resolution GC/MS

For clinical and environmental analyses utilizing capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), increased sensitivity and speed of analysis are highly desirable. These performance advantages are realized using a WCOT column of 100 μm i.d. as compared to the more conventional 200 μm i.d. capillary columns. The improved sensitivity of capillary direct GC/MS with the 100 μm i.d. column for the confirmation of drugs of abuse will be demonstrated. For environmental analysis, the superior efficiency and resolution of the 100 μm i.d. column can be employed for the separation of priority pollutants. This approach is more amenable to capillary direct GC/MS providing a more effective interface to the mass spectrometer. As a result improved sensitivity and a considerable decrease in analysis time is achieved over that obtained with the larger diameter environmental specialty phase columns.     

Application of nanoscale packed capillary liquid chromatography (75 μm id) and capillary zone electrophoresis/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to the analysis of macrolide antibiotics

Nanoscale separation techniques, nanoscale packed capillary columns (75 μm id), and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), on-line with electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI/MS), were applied to the separation of a series of ten macrolide antibiotics. Both techniques use sub-microliter-per-minute flow rates through the analytical column and therefore require an electrospray probe that incorporates coaxial sheath flow. Positive ion electrospray mass spectra of these compounds yielded mainly protonated molecules. Fragmentation to yield structurally significant fragment ions was achieved by collision-induced dissociation (CID) at increased skimmer voltages. Separations were achieved using both techniques, with CZE/ESI/MS showing improved peak shapes and detection limits combined with faster analysis times. Nanoscale packed capillary columns provided better chromatographic resolution and was less susceptible to peak broadening caused by overloading of the analytes.     

Capillary Electrochromatography of Pyrimidine Derivatives Using UV and Mass Spectrometric Detection

 The separation of pyrimidine derivatives by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) using either UV or mass spectrometric detection is described. For UV detection an aqueous phosphate carrier electrolyte containing acetonitrile is employed. The results are compared to the analysis of the same compounds by micellar electrokinetic chromatography in terms of selectivity, migration times, linearity, and detection limits. For the combination of CEC and mass spectrometry (MS) an inexpensive way to couple commercially available instruments is presented; the interface consists of an electrically grounded stainless steel connector (containing a stainless steel frit) serving as the electrode and coupling the CEC capillary with a fused silica transfer capillary to the MS instrument. Alternatively, a PEEK adapter combining the CEC capillary and a grounded stainless steel transfer capillary serving as the electrode is employed. To avoid the formation of hydrogen gas at the coupling piece or the transfer capillary, p-benzoquinone is added to the carrier electrolyte consisting of aqueous ammonium acetate and acetonitrile.     

Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental samples: a critical review of gas chromatographic (GC) methods

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are frequently measured in the atmosphere for air quality assessment, in biological tissues for health-effects monitoring, in sediments and mollusks for environmental monitoring, and in foodstuffs for safety reasons. In contemporary analysis of these complex matrices, gas chromatography (GC), rather than liquid chromatography (LC), is often the preferred approach for separation, identification, and quantification of PAHs, largely because GC generally affords greater selectivity, resolution, and sensitivity than LC. This article reviews modern-day GC and state-of-the-art GC techniques used for the determination of PAHs in environmental samples. Standard test methods are discussed. GC separations of PAHs on a variety of capillary columns are examined, and the properties and uses of selected mass spectrometric (MS) techniques are presented. PAH literature on GC with MS techniques, including chemical ionization, ion-trap MS, time-of-flight MS (TOF-MS), and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), is reviewed. Enhancements to GC, for example large-volume injection, thermal desorption, fast GC, and coupling of GC to LC, are also discussed with regard to the determination of PAHs in an effort to demonstrate the vigor and robustness GC continues to achieve in the analytical sciences.     

高效毛细管电泳-电喷雾飞行时间质谱联用分析黄连中的生物碱

建立了高效毛细管电泳-电喷雾飞行时间质谱联用(HPCE-ESI-TOF/MS)快速定性分析黄连中生物碱类化合物的分析方法. 使用未涂层石英毛细管, 以50 mmol/L乙酸铵-0.5%甲醇溶液(用氨水调至pH＝7.2)作为运行缓冲液, 分离电压为25 kV; 鞘液组成为50%甲醇-49.5%水-0.5%乙酸, 鞘液流速为4 μL/min; 质谱选用正离子模式, 碰撞电压(Fragmentor)为100 V. 结果表明, 通过各色谱峰紫外光谱和质谱测得精确分子量结果, 结合文献, 对黄连中7种生物碱进行了鉴定. 表明本方法简便、快速, 是黄连中生物碱类化合物快速分离、鉴别的有效方法.     

A new sheathless electrospray interface for coupling of capillary electrophoresis to ion-trap mass spectrometry

A simple laboratory-made sheathless electrospray interface for coupling of capillary electrophoresis to ion-trap mass spectrometry (CE/MS) was developed. The interface was machined in-house and it was designed to be freely interchangeable with the commercially available ionization sources for the mass spectrometer. Sharpened fused-silica capillaries were coated with nickel by a simple electrodeless plating procedure and were used as all-in-one columns/emitters. The electrodeless plating produced a 2-5- micro m thick smooth nickel layer that lasted for more than 8 h of continuous electrospraying. The performance of the CE/MS interface was examined by using four cationic imipramine derivatives as test substances. Relative detection limits were calculated on the basis of the extracted ion electrophorograms and were in the range 6-130 nmol/L, corresponding to absolute detection limits in the range of 20-400 amol. The system was applied for analysis of impurities in an impure imipramine N-oxide preparation, and two of the impurities could be identified on the basis of online-MS(MS) spectra recorded in scan-dependent mode.     

Capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with chemical ionization and negative ion detection for confirmation of identity of patulin in apple juice

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with negative ion chemical ionization permits detection of underivatized patulin in apple juice extracts while minimizing co-extractive responses. The technique has been used with a variety of capillary columns in quadrupole, ion trap, and magnetic sector GC/MS instruments to confirm presumptive findings of patulin in apple juice at concentrations ranging from 68 to 3700 micrograms/L. The demonstrated ability to use any of these 3 mass spectrometers and several capillary columns to confirm the identity of patulin are significant strengths of the technique.