Capillary and packed column SFC/MS

A frit restrictor interface for capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry (SFC/MS) has been constructed and used for the analysis of high boiling point alkanes. Packed column SFC/MS is described using both a moving belt liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric interface and a thermospray source in the filament-on mode.     

Simultaneous coupling of capillary supercritical fluid chromatography and high temperature glass capillary gas chromatography to a mass spectrometer

The coupling of glass capillary supercritical fluid chromatography to a high temperature GC/MS system via a micrometeradjustable glass capillary interface including an integrated pressure restrictor is described. With this coupling device, both complementary capillary chromatographic methods retain their full independence and flexibility. It is shown that in supercritical fluid chromatography glass fulfils all the requirements of a suitable support material. The preparation of narrow bore glass capillary columns (0.06 mm i.d.), coated with chemically bonded and crosslinked fluids with a film thickness of about 0.6 μm, which exploit the merits of OHterminated polysiloxanes as stationary phases is discussed. The application of glass capillary SFC is demonstrated and compared with examples given in the literature.     

An attempt to extend ordinary capillary gas chromatography to supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC)

Since capillary columns with well immobilized stationary phases are expected to withstand contact with supercritical fluids, we wished to study their amenability to SFC. Simultaneously, we wished to learn how far SFC can be accomplished with the ordianary tools of capillary GC. The study demonstrates that truly supercritical, not just relatively high, pressure is required to ensure the typical effects of SFC. Results obtained with sub-and supercritical pressure are compared and discussed. A comprehenshive study of the parameters permitting SFC with capillary GC equipment showed a clear preference for CO₂ as a carrier, FID detection, and oncolumn sampling. While no additional equipment is required, a critical feature is the flow restrictor to be mounted on the end of the column. The production and properties of this restrictor are discussed in detail. It is reasonable to hope that SFC with 0.1 mm id capillary columns can be realized in the pressure range of 100–150 bar, where substances which cannot be eluted from a capillary colum under GC donditions are expected to be analyzed.     

Modification of a packed column gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer

A packed-column gas-chromatograph/mass-spectrometer (GC/MS), Hewlett-Packard 5982, was modified to accommodate fused silica capillary columns. The original GC/MS interface and chemical-ionization sample-line in the ion-source were changed to allow the end of a fused silica capillary column to enter the ion-chamber directly. For chemical-ionization operation, the reagent gas was brought into the MS through the direct-insertion probe port. The calibration compound was introduced through the electron-impact sample-inlet, which simplified the operation. The modified system yields higher sensitivity and more efficient separation, as well as simpler operation, without sacrificing any original instrument functions.     

Chromatographic and mass spectral studies of perfluorooctanesulfonate and three perfluorooctanesulfonamides

The chromatographic and mass spectral characteristics of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and three nitrogen-substituted perfluorooctanesulfonamides have been obtained. A methyl/phenyl mixed-phase fused-silica capillary column was used for gas chromatographic (GC) analyses, while a C18 reversed-phase microbore column was used for liquid chromatographic (LC) analyses. Mass (MS) and tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra were generated using electron ionization (EI), argon CE, methane positive and negative ion CI, and ES ionization modes. EI spectra of the amides showed ions characteristic of both the fluorinated hydrocarbon and the sulfonamide portion of the molecules. The fragmentation pathway was studied using hydrogen/deuterium exchange, and was thought to involve a cyclic intermediate ion. Formation of molecular ions by CE and protonated molecule ions by CI to obtain molecular weight information was only partially successful. Negative ion ES-MS spectra provided intense [M-H]- anions for the amides, and an [M-K]- anion for PFOS from which molecular weight information could be obtained, while ES-MS/MS produced product ions that could be used to detect the presence of these compounds in biological or environmental samples.     

Direct coupling of capillary supercritical fluid chromatography to high resolution mass spectrometry with minimum modification

Summary The coupling of a capillary supercritical fluid chromatograph with a high resolution double focusing mass spectrometer has been accomplished without any modifications to the pumping or ion source systems. The interface utilizes a direct insertion probe (DIP), which was originally designed for the direct analysis of solid samples, together with a trit restrictor as a decompression device. The DIP is placed opposite to the SFC restrictor, and it provides sufficient heat to prevent cluster formation and cooling resulting from the expansion of the supercritical fluid into the vacuum environment. Excellent mass spectra of standard polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons under chemical-ionization (CI) conditions using methane as the reagent gas, and under charge-exchange (CE) conditions using CO₂ as the charge exchange medium were obtained.     

Supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry using a simple capillary-direct interface

Summary A simple method for interfacing capillary supercritical fluid chromatography with a commercial quadrupole mass spectrometer (SFC/MS) has been developed that yields good chromatographic peak shapes and good sensitivity. No modification of the mass spectrometer is required, and a single instrument can be used for both SFC/MS and GC/MS with conversion between modes requiring less than 20 min. SFC/MS separations and chemical ionization mass spectra of wax components, a triazine pesticide metabolite, abietic acid, and high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are reported.

---

Kombination von Chromatographie mit überkritischen fluiden Phasen und Massenspektrometrie unter Verwendung eines einfachen direkten Capillar-Interface

     

Packed-column supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry via a two-stage momentum separator

The practical utility of a two-stage momentum separator for combining packed-column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with mass spectrometry (MS) is described. A Hewlett-Packard model 1084B liquid chromatograph modified for packed-column SFC is connected to a linear fused-silica capillary restrictor housed in a heated probe held at 60 degrees at the terminus. A makeup of coaxial helium gas (1.5 L/min) or dissolved solvent (0.2-0.4 mL/min) can be introduced at the point of supercritical fluid expansion. The latter SFC effluent (0.3-2.0 mL/min) is expanded into a heated (44 degrees) desolvation chamber and directed through a nozzle positioned at the entrance of a two-stage momentum separator. Enrichment of the analyte relative to the volatile gases allows the transfer of sample particles to the MS ion source to produce electron ionization of flash-volatilized eluates. On-line SFC/MS separation and detection of low microgram levels of involatile, thermally labile analytes in synthetic mixtures is accomplished. Identification of an unknown compound in a drug tampering incident and the identification of an unknown metabolite isolated from horse urine is also accomplished.     

Analysis of turkish lignite tar by coupled LC/GC,GC/MS,and capillary SFC

This work describes the analysis of a pyrolysis product of a lignite sample obtained from the Turkish Goynuk reserve. The aliphatic, aromatic and polar compounds present in the tar are separated and identified by various chromatographic techniques: Capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), on-line high performance microbore liquid chromatography/capillary gas chromatography (LC/GC) and capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The suitability of each technique for this particular application is discussed, and semi-quantitative results are presented for the major components detected.     

Determination of molecular mass distribution of silicone oils by supercritical fluid chromatography, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and their off-line combination

Silicone oil samples were characterized by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI--TOF MS), and their off-line combination. SFC was used to separate samples of silicone oils on micropacked capillary columns. The fractions for the identification studies were obtained from SFC runs at defined time intervals, when the restrictor was pulled out from the chromatographic flame ionization detector (FID) and inserted into a glass vial with acetone. MALDI--TOF MS was used for the identification of individual oligomers in the fractions separated. The molecular mass distributions determined based on SFC and MALDI--TOF MS measurements were compared. From this comparison, it follows that the results are in good agreement. However, certain differences were observed: MALDI--TOF MS was capable of detecting somewhat larger oligomers than the SFC-FID, but the lower molecular mass oligomers were not present in the MALDI spectra. Differences in the region of lower molecular masses can be explained by evaporation of the more volatile low molecular mass oligomers resulting from heating of the sample during the MALDI--TOF MS measurements as a result of the absorption of the laser shot energy. The fact that no high mass discrimination effects of the MALDI--TOF MS measurements, compared with SFC, were observed is very promising for further applications of MALDI--TOF MS in characterizing synthetic polymers of moderate polydispersity.     

Effect of the relative pressure on the efficiency and separation properties of open capillary columns

Wide use of a combination of gas chromatographic (GC) separations with mass spectroscopic detection causes the necessity to study the effect of the relative pressure in a capillary column on its efficiency and separation properties. Using n-decane as a sorbate, a decrease in the relative pressure was shown to induce a slight increase in the efficiency of polar capillary columns but results in a considerable decrease in the optimal flow rate of the mobile phase and strongly constricts the Van-Deemter curve profile. In the presence of the restrictor, even minor deviations from the optimal flow rate can result in a considerable decrease in the column efficiency. Since the capillary restrictor is often a component of the interface between the column and mass spectrometer, it is necessary to exactly maintain the optimal operation conditions of the GC column to achieve an optimal efficiency of separation.     

Application of low-pressure gas chromatography-ion-trap mass spectrometry to the analysis of the essential oil of Turnera diffusa (Ward.) Urb

Turnera diffusa Willd. var. afrodisiaca (Ward) Urb. (syn. T. aphrodisiaca) belongs to the family of Turneraceae and is an aromatic plant growing wild in the subtropical regions of America and Africa. It is widely used in the traditional medicine as e.g. anti-cough, diuretic, and aphrodisiac agent. This work presents a 3 min chromatographic analysis using low-pressure (LP) gas chromatography (GC)-ion-trap (IT) mass spectrometry (MS). The combination of a deactivated 0.6 m x 0.10 mm i.d., restrictor with a wide-bore CP-Wax 52 capillary column (10 m x 0.53 mm i.d., 1 microm) reduces the analysis time by a factor of 3-7 in comparison to the use of a conventional narrow bore column. Chromatographic conditions have been optimized to achieve the fastest separation with the highest signal/noise ratio in MS detection. These results allow fast and reliable quality control of the essential oil to be achieved.     

Reaction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Part IX: Post-column hydrodesulfurization in capillary GC/MS as an aid in structure elucidation of cyclic sulfides within mixtures

This article describes a method that assists in structure determination of cyclic sulfides mixtures by GC/MS. The method involves the use of a gas-phase hydrodesulfurization microreactor (AP-56 catalyst, reaction temperture 300-315°C, hydrogen as a carrier and reagent gas) located between the capillary column (OV-17) and the mass spectrometer. The presence of a microreactor in such a position does not essentially affect the chromatographic separation achieved by using the capillary column. Combined analysis of the mass spectra registered for the original sulfides and the hydrodesulfurization products permits the structure determination of each effluent to be made more reliably. This is illustrated by the investigation of a reaction mixture containing the structural and geometric isomers of methyl-substituted thiabicyclononanes.     

Unified gas and supercritical fluid chromatography on 50 μm i.d. Columns

A unified approach to sequential gas and supercritical fluid Chromatography using 50 μm i.d. open tubular columns is described. Sample introduction is performed by means of a rotary injection valve. In order that linear velocities can be optimized independently, a second rotary valve in the chromatographic oven is used to direct the flow of column eluate to the flame ionization detector through either fused silica tubing in GC, or a frit restrictor in SFC. Applications of sequential GC-SFC on a 50 μm i.d. open tubular column are demonstrated, and comparisons made between sequential GC-SFC on 50 and 100 μm i.d. columns.     

Rapid screening technique for tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins in complex environmental matrices by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with an ion-trap detector

A capillary column gas chromatographic/ion-trap tandem mass spectrometric (GC/MS/MS) technique was applied to the determination of tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (TCDDs) in complex environmental matrices. A detection limit of 500 fg μl^-1 injected, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 6:1, was obtained when MS/MS was combined with broadband ion ejection of matrix ions and selected ion isolation. Calibration graphs were constructed from extracted fragment ion mass chromatograms and were found to be linear over the range 0.5-200 pg. Concentrations of total TCDDs and of 2,3,7,8-TCDD were determined for extracts from fish, air and soil; in most cases, the results found by GC/MS/MS were comparable to those obtained by high-resolution MS and triple quadrupole MS.     

Chromatography with dense gases

Summary A capillary restrictor for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with CO₂ was made by using a micro torch and fine emery cloths or grinding blocks. This restrictor could be drawn out either directly from the end of the analytical capillary column, or from a short piece of any capillary, which was then connected to the analytical column by standard techniques. It was found that the base current of a flame ionisation detector (FID) depends strongly on the position of the capillary end with respect to the FID flame tip and on the CO₂ grade, of course. Best results have been achieved at around 5 to 7 mm distance between the restrictor and the flame tip ends, and using SFC grade CO₂.     

Parallel supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry system for high-throughput enantioselective optimization and separation

An automated parallel four-column supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC)/MS system to perform high-throughput enantioselective chromatographic method development and optimization is described in this paper. The initial screening was performed in parallel on four chiral SFC columns over several buffer conditions. Optimization of the separation of enantiomers was achieved on a single chiral column. The screening and optimization were accomplished in a fully automated, user-independent manner. Incorporation of column control valves in front of each chiral column allowed the system to switch from parallel four-column screening mode to single-column optimization mode. To facilitate the process, a custom software program, we termed, intelligent parallel optimization for chiral SFC separation (IPOCSS), was developed in-house. The custom software monitored each of the runs in real-time, processed each data set, and by incorporating user-defined criteria (e.g., resolution of the two enantiomer chromatographic peaks), selected the next set of experiments and automatically optimized the enantioseparation. This new approach, combining parallel SFC/MS screening and intelligent software-controlled method optimization, has resulted in a streamlined, high-throughput tool for enantioselective method development, which has been applied successfully to enantioseparations in support of drug discovery.     

Evaluation of low-pressure gas chromatography linked to ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry for the fast trace analysis of multiclass pesticide residues

A rapid multiresidue method for the analysis of 72 pesticides has been developed using a single injection with low-pressure gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LP-GC/MS/MS). The LP-GC/MS/MS method used a short capillary column of 10 m x 0.53 mm i.d. x 0.25 microm film thickness coupled with a 0.6 m x 0.10 mm i.d. restriction at the inlet end. Optimal LP-GC conditions were determined which achieved the fastest separation in MS/MS detection mode. Also MS/MS conditions were optimized in order to increase sensitivity and selectivity. The analytical parameters of the LP-GC/MS/MS method were compared with those obtained by GC/MS/MS using a conventional capillary column (30 m x 0.25 mm i.d. x 0.25 microm film thickness). Better precision and sensitivity values were obtained with the LP-GC/MS/MS approach. The limits of detection (LOD) of the compounds ranged from 0.1 to 14.1 microg L(-1) for LP-GC/MS/MS, lower than those obtained for conventional GC/MS/MS that ranged from 0.1 to 17.5 microg L(-1). The peak widths obtained with the short column in LP-GC are similar to those obtained using conventional capillary GC columns, and the peaks can be successfully identified by MS/MS detection with the conventional scan speed of ion-trap instruments. In addition, the analysis time was significantly reduced with LP-GC/MS/MS (32 min) versus GC/MS/MS (72 min), allowing the number of samples analyzed per day in a routine laboratory to be doubled.     

High speed analysis of underivatized drugs by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

The technique of choice for many types of forensic drug confirmations is gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Significant amounts of analytical time can be involved in a GC/MS run. The use of a 0.1 mm i.d. fused silica capillary column with hydrogen carrier gas can significantly increase the speed of an analysis without sacrificing resolution. Nanogram levels of underivatized drugs, from amphetamine to strychnine, can be eluted in less than twelve minutes. The multitasking system permits data acquisition, while performing data reduction on the previous run.     

Two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry for the enantiomeric analysis and purification of pharmaceutical samples

A new analytical two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry system (2D SFC/SFC/MS) has been designed and implemented to enhance the efficiency and quality of analytical support in drug discovery. The system consists of a Berger analytical SFC pump and a modifier pump, a Waters ZQ 2000 mass spectrometer, a set of switching valves, and a custom software program. The system integrates achiral and chiral separations into a single run to perform enantiomeric analysis and separation of a racemic compound from a complex mixture without prior clean up. The achiral chromatography in the first dimension separates the racemate from all other impurities, such as un-reacted starting materials and by-products. Mass-triggered fractionation is used to selectively fractionate the targeted racemic compound based on its molecular weight. The purified racemate from the achiral chromatography in the first dimension is then transferred to the chiral column in the second dimension to conduct the enantiomeric separation and analysis. A control software program, we coined SFC2D, was developed and integrated with MassLynx to retrieve acquisition status, current sample information, and real time mass spectrometric data as they are acquired. The SFC2D program also monitors the target ion signal to carry out mass-triggered fractionation by switching the valve to fractionate the desired peak. The 2D SFC/SFC/MS system uses one CO(2) pump and one modifier pump for both first and second dimension chromatographic separations using either gradient or isocratic elution. Similarly, a preparative 2D SFC/SFC/MS system has been constructed by modifying an existing Waters preparative LC/MS system. All components except the back pressure regulator are from the original LC/MS system. Applications of the 2D SFC/SFC/MS methods to the separation and the analysis of racemic pharmaceutical samples in complex mixtures demonstrated that an achiral separation (in first dimension) and a chiral separation (in second dimension) can be successfully combined into a single, streamlined process both in analytical and preparative scale.