Strong anion-exchange liquid chromatography coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry using a Liquiface interface

Morrison, D.J., Taylor, K. and Preston, T. (2010) Strong anion-exchange liquid chromatography coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry using a Liquiface interface. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 24(12), pp. 1755-1762. (doi: 10.1002/rcm.4572)

Abstract

The introduction of liquid chromatography coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LC/IRMS) as an analytical tool for the measurement of isotope ratios in non-volatile analytes has somewhat simplified the analytical cycle from sample collection to analysis mainly due to the avoidance of the extensive sample processing and derivatisation that were necessary for gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS). Here we test the performance of coupling strong anion exchange to IRMS using only the second commercially available interface; the Liquiface. The system was modified from installation specification to improve peak resolution in the interface and maintain peak separation from the column to the mass spectrometer. The system performance was assessed by the determination of sensitivity, accuracy and precision attained from carbohydrate separations. The system performed satisfactorily after modifications, resulting in maintenance of peak resolution from column to mass spectrometer. The sensitivity achieved suggested that ∼ 150 ng carbon could be analysed with acceptable precision (<0.3‰). Accuracy was maintained in the interface as determined by correlation with offline techniques, resulting in regression coefficient of r² = 0.98 and a slope of 0.99. The average precision achieved for the separation of seven monosaccharides was 0.36‰. The integration of a carbonate removal device limited the effect of background carbon perturbations in the mass spectrometer associated with eluent gradients, and the coupling of strong anion-exchange chromatography with IRMS was successfully achieved using the Liquiface.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Preston, Professor Tom and Morrison, Professor Douglas
• Authors: Morrison, D.J., Taylor, K., and Preston, T.
• Subjects: Q Science > QD Chemistry
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
• ISSN: 0951-4198
• ISSN (Online): 1097-0231
• Published Online: 17 May 2010