Rapid LC–MS detection of cyanobacterial hepatotoxins microcystins and nodularins—Comparison of columns

Eight reversed-phase columns intended for rapid HPLC were assessed for the separation of thirteen microcystins and nodularins, cyclic peptidic hepatotoxins. The instrumentation consisted of an Agilent Technologies 1200 Rapid Resolution high performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a mass spectrometer, Bruker Daltonics Ultra Performance High Capacity Ion Trap MS (HCT Ultra) with electrospray ionisation (RRLC-ESI-IT-MS). The columns tested were 2–2.1 mm × 50 mm in diameter and length, and contained small particles (1.8–2.7 μm), or monolithic silica supports for fast performance. The shortest total run time achieved was 3 min 15 s including equilibration and injection. Critical microcystin pairs were still resolved. Several columns showed excellent performance.