Dioxin analysis by gas chromatography-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (GC-FTICRMS)

Abstract

The feasibility of utilizing a gas chromatograph-tandem quadrupole-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (GC-MS/MS-FTICRMS) to analyze chlorinated-dioxins/ furans (CDDs/CDFs) and mixed halogenated dioxins/furans (HDDs/HDFs) was investigated by operating the system in the GC-FTICRMS mode. CDDs/CDFs and mixed HDDs/HDFs could be analyzed at 50,000 to 100,000 resolving power (RP) on the capillary gas chromatographic time scale. Initial experiments demonstrated that 1 pg of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzop-dioxin (TCDD) and 5 pg of 2-bromo-3,7,8-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (BTrCDD) could be detected. The feasibility of utilizing an FTICRMS for screening of CDDs/CDFs, HDDs/HDFs and related compounds was also investigated by analyzing an extract from vegetation exposed to fall-out from an industrial fire. CDDs/CDFs, chlorinated pyrenes and chlorinated tetracenes could be detected from a Kendrick plot analysis of the ultrahigh resolution mass spectra. Mass accuracies were of the order of 0.5 ppm on standards with external mass calibration and 1 ppm on a sample with internal mass calibration. (J

Recent development in analysis of persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention

“…Likewise, Taguchi et al studied the feasibility of using GC-tandem quadrupole-Fourier transform ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (GC-MS/MS-FT-ICR-MS) to analyze PCDD/Fs [79]. At a resolving power (RP) of 50 000-100 000 (FWHM), the LOD of toxic 2,3,7,8-TCDD was 1 pg, which was similar to those of a magnetic sector instrument tuned at 50 000 RP (10% valley).…”

The use of mass defect in modern mass spectrometry

“…by doing analogous calculations (i.e., 16/15.996 for finding compounds differing in oxygen content). A recent example of this type of analogous calculation has been shown for chlorinated and mixed halogenated dioxins and furans. Obviously, the more unique mass defect a compound has, the more easily it can be filtered from the chemical background in a complex mixture.…”

Using mass defect plots as a discovery tool to identify novel fluoropolymer thermal decomposition products

“…Mass defect filtering of high‐resolution mass spectra is an effective approach to interpret and distill chemical information from large mass spectral data sets . The mass defect is the difference between the exact mass of a chemical compound and its nominal mass and may be exploited in a number of useful ways that have recently been reviewed by Sleno .…”