J Sep Sci. 2013 Sep;36(17):2746-52. doi: 10.1002/jssc.201300423. Epub 2013 Jul 19.

A direct sensitivity comparison between flow-modulated comprehensive 2D and 1D GC in untargeted and targeted MS-based experiments.

Journal of separation science

Peter Q Tranchida, Flavio A Franchina, Mariosimone Zoccali, Ivana Bonaccorsi, Francesco Cacciola, Luigi Mondello

PMID: 23868497 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201300423

Abstract

The present contribution is focused on the measurement of the analytical sensitivity attained in untargeted/targeted MS/MS experiments, performed using flow-modulator comprehensive 2D and 1D GC. The comprehensive 2D experiment was performed by diverting part of the high flow (circa 80%) to flush the accumulation loop (about 28 mL/min) to waste, to reduce the gas flow entering the ion source. 1D analyses were performed through: (i) unmodulated and (ii) single column applications. An equivalent temperature program was applied in the modulated and unmodulated analyses, while a faster one was employed in the single column one. In all application types, the (same) triple quadrupole instrument was operated in the full-scan and multiple reaction monitoring modes. A genuine sweet orange oil and the same sample spiked with 20 phytosanitary compounds were employed to reach the research objective. The results highlight the problems related to the flow modulation-MS combination. Specifically, it was found that sensitivity was on average three to four times higher in unmodulated and optimized single-column applications.

© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Keywords: Citrus essential oil; Comprehensive GC; Flow modulation; Pesticide analysis; Triple quadrupole MS

MeSH terms

• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
• Limit of Detection
• Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Publication Types

• Comparative Study
• Journal Article
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't