Joe Binkley

High resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HR-TOF-MS) with a novel multimode ionization source together with enhanced chromatographic resolution can successfully detect and identify pollutants in household dust samples. Here’s how.

In this study, general extract screening of food storage materials was done with nontargeted analytical methods to understand what analytes could potentially leach into food or beverages. GC and mass spectral deconvolution effectively separated analytes within the complex mixture and TOF-MS provided full mass range spectral data for identification. This workflow can be used for confident characterization of components present as extractables from food packaging materials.

Enhanced chromatographic resolution (GC×GC), increased resolving power with high-resolution TOF-MS, and software designed to leverage these attributes are combined to provide data that are easy to process and interpret.

Direct exposure probe (DEP) coupled to the Pegasus HT, time-of-flight mass spectrometer, was used for the identification of synthetic cannabinoids in MTN-series compounds.

Gas chromatography with electron ionization and mass spectrometry (GC–EI-MS) detection is a workhorse among analytical techniques in metabolomics. A major challenge in the utilization of GC–EI-MS in metabolomics is the identification of unknowns.

The application of high-resolution TOF-MS to petroleomics is presented, and the basic theory of each type of ultrahigh-resolution mass spectral platform is briefly explained.

Polar lipids and other metabolites extracted from plasma from lean, diabetic, and obese Zucker rats were analyzed by flow injection using high resolution time of flight mass spectrometry. Metabolites were confidently identified and differences in the metabolite profiles determined.

A proof-of-concept application for detecting abused steroids in urine samples collected from an antidoping surveillance program

The combination of GC with time-of-flight (TOF)-MS proves to be a successful approach for the challenging analysis of persistent organic pollutants in complex matrices such as sediment and fish samples.

Synthetic cannabis products have garnered a great deal of media attention recently. Countless products are being sold at smoke shops, convenience stores, and online sites.

High performance time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) is applied to the analysis and characterization of complex biological samples. High mass accuracy, high resolution, and accurate relative isotope abundance are all applied to the determination of analytes covering a range of concentrations in complex matrices including plasma and urine. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations are provided and include demonstrations of the impact of high-performance MS on sensitivity and selectivity. The ability to leverage high-performance MS in conjunction with a broad dynamic range in rapid ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analyses to identify unknowns and to propose putative metabolic biomarkers is demonstrated. The impact of speed of analysis and selectivity to the depth of coverage and accuracy of the analyses are discussed.

The impact of speed of analysis and selectivity to the depth of coverage and accuracy of the analyses are discussed.

The authors explain some of the primary differences between quadrupole and time-of-flight mass analyzers and provide information regarding the benefits of each in their use for gas chromatography applications.

Illegal drug use worldwide is at an all time high. Forensic laboratories are seeing increased sample loads creating an immediate need for fast and accurate analysis to positively identify confiscated materials in criminal investigations. This application highlights the value of gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) for drug testing in forensic laboratories. A method was developed to successfully identify twenty drugs of abuse in 4.5 min. This GC-TOFMS method shows good chromatographic peak shape for even the most challenging drug analytes; even the peak shapes for amphetamine and methamphetamine were exceptional considering they were analyzed underivatized. The total ion chromatogram (TIC) for the twenty drug analytes is shown in Figure 1.

Illegal drug use worldwide is at an all-time high. There is a crucial need for fast and accurate analysis to positively identify suspected drugs in criminal investigations. Gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC–TOFMS) can be a valuable tool for drug testing in forensic crime laboratories. Method development and GC–TOFMS experimentation was conducted in cooperation with a local crime laboratory. The laboratory testing presented will illustrate highly efficient methods and data developed for crime labs that assist in the battle against illegal drugs. Many drug classes have chemical properties that present particular analytical challenges, such as poor detector response, chemical lability, or poor chromatographic peak shape. This article presents GC–TOFMS methods developed for several major drug classes and chemical functionalities. The major drugs included in the initial method development are methamphetamine, ecstasy, and heroin. Robust and accurate..