Increasing the accuracy of determination of nc/nH ratios by gas chromatography-atomic emission detection.

The influence of oxygen content in helium on the accuracy of nc/nH ratio determination for model mixtures of aliphatic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls was studied. The best accuracy was achieved at the oxygen content ca. 9%, which was the maximal possible oxygen content in helium for this GC-atomic emission detection (helium flow rate was 25 ml min(-1)). Using the maximal oxygen flow in plasma the nC/nH ratio determination accuracy improvement was accompanied by 10-fold increase in detection limit.

Simultaneous determination of fatty, dicarboxylic and amino acids based on derivatization with isobutyl chloroformate followed by gas chromatography-positive ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with positive ion chemical ionization (PICI) using isobutane as reagent gas was applied for analysis of isobutoxycarbonyl/isobutyl derivatives of 13 fatty, 6 dicarboxylic and 13 amino acids in a single run. For all investigated compounds (except several amino acids) the quasimolecular ions [MH](+) were registered. Asparagine underwent fragmentation via decarboxylation followed by elimination of OC(4)H(9) ([M-117](+)), whereas serine and tyrosine produced the cluster ions [M+C(4)H(9)OCO](+). Estimated detection limits were 6-250 pg in the total ion current (TIC) mode and 3-10 times lower using the selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode.

Electron ionization and atmospheric pressure photochemical ionization in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of amino acids.

The mass spectra of tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivatives of 17 amino acids were obtained using electron ionization (EI) and atmospheric pressure photochemical ionization (APPhCI) mass spectrometry. The APPhCI mass spectra for all of the derivatives except arginine were shown to consist of only molecular [M](+.) and quasimolecular [MH](+) ions whereas, in the case of EI, the compounds in question underwent a drastic fragmentation. The application of APPhCI to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry enables a reliable identification of the TBDMS derivatives of amino acids in a mixture, even if its components are only partially resolved, due to the unique molecular masses for each compound. Comparison of the respective positive-ion chemical ionization (PICI) mass spectra available in the literature with APPhCI spectra has shown that, in the case of PICI, unlike APPhCI, noticeable fragmentation occurs.

Determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and biphenyls by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the negative chemical ionization mode with different reagent gases.

Reagent gases that are used in mass spectrometry in the NCI mode for the determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and biphenyls (PCBs) are discussed. Ion-molecule reactions and respective characteristic ions that form while using reagent gases (CH(4), O(2), i-C(4)H(10), NH(3), H(2), He, Ar, Xe, SF(6)) or gas mixtures (CH(4)/O(2), Ar/CH(4), CH(4)/H(2)O, Ar/O(2), i-C(4)H(10)/CH(2)Cl(2)/O(2)) are reviewed. It is shown that only CH(4), O(2), CH(4)/O(2), and CH(4)/N(2)O are widely used and well studied, even though-in the case of these reagent gases-there are contradictions between the publications of various authors. Such reagent gases as NH(3) and He are not well studied, but further investigations of their use for the determination of organochlorine pollutants could be of interest. The possibilities of more sensitive and selective determination of PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs are discussed.