Electron ionization and chemical ionization sensitivity studies involving capillary supercritical fluid chromatography combined with benchtop mass spectrometry

Abstract

Sensitivity studies involving a capillary supercritical fluid chromatograph interfaced to a benchtop quadrupole mass spectrometer have been conducted. These investigations involved the use of both electron and ammonia chemical ionization with pyrene serving as the test compound. Full scan detection limits were determined to be of the order of 70 ng for electron ionization and 7 ng for ammonia chemical ionization. Selected ion monitoring enabled the detection of approximately 700 pg of pyrene in electron ionization mode and 1 pg of pyrene using ammonia chemical ionization.