Organic solvent and temperature-enhanced ion chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry for the determination of low molecular weight organic and inorganic anions.
There has recently been increased interest in coupling ion chromatography (IC) to high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to enable highly sensitive and selective analysis. Herein, the first comprehensive study focusing on the direct coupling of suppressed IC to HRMS without the need for post-suppressor organic solvent modification is presented. Chromatographic selectivity and added HRMS sensitivity offered by organic solvent-modified IC eluents on a modern hyper-crosslinked polymeric anion-exchange resin (IonPac AS18) are shown using isocratic eluents containing 5-50 mM hydroxide with 0-80% methanol or acetonitrile for a range of low molecular weight anions (<165 Da). Comprehensive experiments on IC thermodynamics over a temperature range between 20-45 °C with the eluent containing up to 60% of acetonitrile or methanol revealed markedly different retention behaviour and selectivity for the selected analytes on the same polymer based ion-exchange resin. Optimised sensitivity with HRMS was achieved with as low as 30-40% organic eluent content. Analytical performance characteristics are presented and compared with other IC-MS based works. This study also presents the first application of IC-HRMS to forensic detection of trace low-order anionic explosive residues in latent human fingermarks.
Analytical & Environmental Science Division, Department of Forensic & Analytical Science, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom.
Elizabeth S
ES
Gilchrist
Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science, School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 75, Hobart 7001, Australia.
Pavel N
PN
Nesterenko
Analytical & Environmental Science Division, Department of Forensic & Analytical Science, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom.
Norman W
NW
Smith
Analytical & Environmental Science Division, Department of Forensic & Analytical Science, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: leon.barron@kcl.ac.uk.
Leon P
LP
Barron
D000097:Acetonitriles / Q000737:chemistry*; D000838:Anions / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis*; D010472:Perchlorates / Q000032:analysis*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000032:analysis*
D000097:Acetonitriles; D000838:Anions; D009566:Nitrates; D010472:Perchlorates; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D012997:Solvents; D013861:Thiocyanates; C032279:phthalic acid; C031760:thiocyanate; C494474:perchlorate; D000432:Methanol; C032159:acetonitrile
Anions; High resolution mass spectrometry; Ion chromatography; Organic solvent; Temperature