Impurity analysis of pure aldrin using heart-cut multi-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Identification and quantification of related-structure impurity is a research focus in the purity assessment of organic compounds. Determination of the purity value and uncertainty assessment are also important in the metrological research. A method for the determination of related-structure impurity in pure aldrin sample has been developed by using heart-cut multi-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (MDGC/MS). Compared to the traditional one-dimensional (1-D) GC system, the two separated columns in the MDGC/MS system can effectively reduce co-elution, enhance separation capability, and thus improve detectability of the trace-level impurities. In addition, MDGC/MS system was simultaneously equipped with flame ionization detector (FID) or electron capture detector (ECD) in the first GC unit and mass spectrometry (MS) detector in the second GC unit. Therefore, accurate quantitative results of the trace-level impurities can be easily achieved by isolation of principal component to the second dimension column using “heart-cut” process. The mass fraction of related-structure impurities in aldrin samples obtained using MDGC/MS system ranged from 6.8 × 10−3 mg g−1 to 26.47 mg g−1 with five orders of magnitude, which is hard to be realized by mean of the 1-D GC. Excellent linearity with correlation coefficients of above 0.999 was achieved for each impurity analysis over a wide range of concentrations. Limits of quantification (LOQ) varied from 250 ng g−1 to 330 ng g−1 for FID, and from 1.0 ng g−1 to 2.0 ng g−1 detected by ECD. The combined standard uncertainty (uc) was lower than 0.37 mg g−1 and 0.040 mg g−1 detected using FID and ECD, respectively. Therefore, performance characterization of MDGC/MS used in the study is fit for quantification analysis of trace-level impurity. These results demonstrate that the MDGC/MS is extremely suitable for the purity assessment of organic compounds with medium structural complexity and low polarity.

► Application of heart-cut multi-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
► Method for determination of related-structure impurity in aldrin sample has been developed.
► Separation and qualitative analysis could be fulfilled in a simple cycle.
► Accurate quantitative results of trace-level impurities can be easily achieved.
► The method is fit for compounds with medium structural complexity and low polarity.