skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Choosing between high-resolution mass spectrometry and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry: Environmental applications

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00082a011· OSTI ID:5860918
 [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (USA)
  2. Triangle Labs., Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)

Selectivity in environmental analyses requires the use of fractionation techniques and HRMS or MS/MS to eliminate specific and nonspecific interferences. In the analysis of TCDDs and TCDFs, HRMS is the method of choice when specific interferences arising from compounds with molecular or fragment ions can be separated from TCDD and TCDF ions at a resolving power of 10,000. In cases where HRMS does not provide adequate selectivity at this resolving power, MS/MS is needed. Analyses on a pulp and paper effluent extract show that MS/MS was able to substantially eliminate interferences due to the presence of methyl and ethyl tetrachlorinated dibenzofurans that were not removed by HRMS at resolving powers of 10,000 and 18,000. Nonspecific interferences may also be present due to coelution of compounds that cause changes in the response of the mass spectrometer and are best eliminated by fractionation techniques or by altering conditions of analyses.

OSTI ID:
5860918
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology; (USA), Vol. 24:12; ISSN 0013-936X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English