Simultaneous Quantification and Identification of Targeted and non-Targeted Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) by GC-MS/MS with Concurring MRM and Scanning methods

New Organic Monitoring Techniques
Oral Presentation

Prepared by Y. Lin, Z. Nicoles, Y. Hiramatsu
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, 7102 Riverwood Dr, Columbia, Maryland, 21046, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 410-910-0968

ABSTRACT

The identification and quantification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a routine analysis in many environmental laboratories and is essential for both ongoing regulatory compliance and research, particularly for drinking water and groundwater. The analysis is typically performed using a single quad mass spectrometer system with purge and trap sample introduction (P&T GCMS-SQ) as described in EPA method 8260. The analysis uses the scanning mode on a GCMS, which allows compound identification via library search as well as compound quantification using selected ions. However, with increasingly tighter environmental regulations and needs for efficient operations, traditional methods may not be able to fulfill the laboratories’ demands. GC-MS/MS (GCMS-TQ) based methods are an alternative that greatly improve the sensitivity for VOCs in water and soil samples due to selectivity. Furthermore, Shimadzu TQ instrument allows simultaneous scan and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) acquisition. Therefore, a single injection allows for lower-level quantification of target compounds and identification of unknowns via library search. In this study, we have coupled EST evolution 2 P&T system with a Shimadzu GCMS-TQ8050NX to identify and quantify VOCs in a single 15-minute analysis. The results of this study showed valid calibration curves for a mixture of standard VOCs down to ppt levels and the ability to identify non-targeted compounds. This further demonstrates the utility of the Shimadzu GCMS-TQ system as a tool for rapid and repeatable environmental analysis to modernize environmental analysis while using EPA methods approved for regulatory testing.