title: Trace analysis of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers in environmental samples by low-pressure gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry.
abstract: A rapid determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and the three xylene isomers (BTEX), including a nearly baseline separation of the xylene isomers in environmental samples within 1 min has been carried out using low-pressure gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry (LP-GC-IT-MS). In order to evaluate the different parameters which may influence the performance of LP-GC-IT-MS, different column and mass spectral parameters were varied. Comparing LP-GC-IT-MS with the conventional equivalent, we obtained excellent detection limits as well as a good RSD of 8-13% in ition to a much shorter analysis time. In order to evaluate LP-GC-IT-MS for use in environmental samples, we determined BTEX in air.
authors.affiliation: Micro- and Trace Analysis Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1. 2610 Antwerp, Belgium. pjoos@uia.ua.ac.be
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Joos
authors.forename: A F L
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Godoi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Jong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Zeeuw
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Grieken
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis*; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D007536:Isomerism; D014050:Toluene / Q000032:analysis*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D001554:Benzene; C004912:ethylbenzene