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Screening of semifluorinated n‐alkanes by gas chromatography coupled to dielectric barrier discharge ionization mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Hagenhoff Sebastian,
Korf Ansgar,
Markgraf Ullrich,
Brandt Sebastian,
Schütz Alexander,
Franzke Joachim,
Hayen Heiko
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.8139
Subject(s) - chemistry , mass spectrometry , analytical chemistry (journal) , electron ionization , gas chromatography , alkane , ionization , chromatography , atmospheric pressure chemical ionization , chemical ionization , ion , gas chromatography–mass spectrometry , dielectric barrier discharge , hydrocarbon , organic chemistry , electrode
Rationale The potential of an atmospheric pressure ionization source based on a dielectric barrier discharge in helium for the hyphenation of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/DBDI‐MS) has been demonstrated only recently and for a limited range of compounds. Due to its ‘soft’ ionization properties and the possibility to choose from a variety of atmospheric pressure ionization MS instruments, GC/DBDI‐MS has the potential to be an interesting alternative to ‘classic’ GC/MS techniques. Methods The hyphenation of GC with DBDI‐MS at atmospheric pressure is used for the determination of semifluorinated n‐alkanes in ski wax samples. Results Different to perfluorinated n‐alkanes, which are typically detected as [M − F + O] − and [M − F] − , semifluorinated n‐alkanes can be detected both in positive mode as [M − 3H + nO] + and [M − H + nO] + ( n = 0, 1, 2, and 3) ions, as well as in negative mode as a fragment ion representing the fluorinated part of the respective semifluorinated n‐alkane. The method allowed the sensitive detection of semifluorinated n‐alkanes with achievable limits of detection (LODs) in the single digit pg range injected on column. To examine the applicability of the GC/DBDI‐MS method, semifluorinated n‐alkanes were determined in fluorinated ski waxes. Results were confirmed by complimentary GC/electron ionization MS measurements. Conclusions The unique SFA ionization patterns serve for complementary unambiguous identification of semifluorinated n‐alkane species in positive mode and screening of contained n‐alkanes fluorinated chain lengths in negative mode.