Flow-modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with simultaneous flame ionization and quadrupole mass spectrometric detection

Flow-modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with simultaneous monitoring of the separation by flame ionization (GC × GC-FID) and quadrupole mass spectrometric (GC × GC-qMSD) detection was studied for the analysis of gasoline and kerosene samples. The acquisition frequency of the FID was 100 Hz and of the qMSD 18 Hz for the mass range m/z 40–300. The instrumental set-up is such that both one-dimensional (GC-FID and GC-qMSD) and two-dimensional separations using the same working conditions can be performed. Gasoline and kerosene samples were analyzed on the column combination HP-5MS (1D) + HP INNOWax (2D). Three modulated peaks were obtained for each hydrocarbon present above 0.1% with ca. 300 ms peak width at the base using 6 s modulation times. Modulated peaks in GC × GC-FID were thus characterized by ca. 30 points while those in GC × GC-qMSD method by 6–8 points only. The FID speed is sufficient for reliable quantitative analysis, while the qMSD scan speed is perfectly appropriate for identification purposes. Moreover, in the GC × GC-qMSD method considerably improved quality of uncorrected spectra was obtained, arising from the enhanced separation over one-dimensional GC-MSD analysis. Spectral match qualities of up to 98% were found.

► Comparison of GC-FID and GC-qMSD, with GC × GC-FID and GC × GC-qMSD separations. ► Combination of flow modulated GC × GC separation with quadrupole mass spectrometry. ► Simultaneous FID and qMSD detection.