Potential chlorinated and brominated interferences on the polybrominated diphenyl ether determinations by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Pulsed large volume injection gas chromatography coupled with electron-capture negative ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry for simultaneous determination of typical halogenated persistent organic pollutants

“…This is because the dissociative electron capture dominates the ionization processes of PBDEs, producing primarily [Br] Ϫ ; additionally, the formation enthalpies of PBDE congeners decrease with°the°decreasing°number°of°bromines° [28].°The IDLs of the GC/EI-qMS were ϳ1 to 600 times less sensitive than those of the GC/ECNI-qMS when monitoring the base peak ions, while those of the GC/PCI-qMS were 4 to 15 times less sensitive than the GC/EI-qMS. When analyzing a real sample, selectivity predominance over sensitivity, in terms of many possible chlorinated and/or brominated chromatographic interferences, have been reported, including the naturally-occurring compounds that vary from matrix to matrix and sometimes are more abundant than the analytes° [29,°30],°as°well°as°from°non-targeted°coex-isting anthropogenic compounds or between the analytes° [31].°GC/ECNI-qMS°with°monitoring°of°the characteristic ions provided more structural information and thus higher selectivity regardless of the lower sensitivity compared with the GC/ECNI-qMS, with monitoring of the base peak ions. However, the lost sensitivity could be compensated for through the introduction of a larger volume of samples into the analyzing system.…”

Separation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans in environmental samples using silica gel and florisil fractionation chromatography

“…To overcome these analytical difficulties, either a highly selective detection or tedious cleanup or even both are demanded [10]. Thus, an isotopic dilution technique coupled with HRGC/HRMS has been used to provide a reliable quantification and to accurately determine the concentrations of these analytes.…”

“…Thus, an isotopic dilution technique coupled with HRGC/HRMS has been used to provide a reliable quantification and to accurately determine the concentrations of these analytes. However, the interference cannot be completely resolved even by using HRGC/HRMS due to the co-elution of these compounds on different types of columns with the same isobaric ions [10][11][12]. For example, PCB180 and BDE47 were found to co-elute from a capillary GC column, and their separation based on mass-tocharge ratio (m/z) requires a MS resolution >23,500 [10], which is beyond the resolutions routinely used by conventional HRMS systems such as the one available in our laboratory.…”

“…However, the interference cannot be completely resolved even by using HRGC/HRMS due to the co-elution of these compounds on different types of columns with the same isobaric ions [10][11][12]. For example, PCB180 and BDE47 were found to co-elute from a capillary GC column, and their separation based on mass-tocharge ratio (m/z) requires a MS resolution >23,500 [10], which is beyond the resolutions routinely used by conventional HRMS systems such as the one available in our laboratory. Pirard et al eliminated the potential interferences between PCBs and PBDEs through increasing the selectivity of the detector [9].…”

Method development for the analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans in single extract of sediment samples

“…Separation of PBDEs from PCBs and PCDD/Fs is difficult and vital in the simultaneous sample preparation procedure and consequent gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis because the compounds often have co-elution problem on various types of GC-column with the same isobaric ions [6][7][8][9]. Multi-layer silica column has been used to separate PBDEs from PCBs and PCDD/Fs.…”