Mark J. Perkins

The method of standard additions (MoSA) enables quantification of volatile impurities in condensed-phase samples, such as emulsions, for which matrix-matched calibration standards are required. The technique is, however, expensive because it requires multiple analyses of each sample.

Pharmaceutical excipients, such as polyethylene glycol-based polymers, must be tested for the presence of ethylene oxide (EtO) and 1,4-dioxane as part of a safety assessment, according to USP Chapter <228>.

This article surveys the application of headspace-SIFT-MS to untargeted screening of food products and ingredients, such as beer, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and strawberry flavor mixes.

Multiple headspace extraction (MHE) can be readily implemented with automated headspace-selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS).

Applying headspace-SIFT-MS to untargeted screening of food products and ingredients.

Direct-injection mass spectrometry (DIMS) and gas chromatography (GC) approaches have some significant differences that are pertinent when analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We explain.

SIFT–MS analysis has potential to screen large numbers of packaging samples for the volatile MOH fraction, providing a rapid indication of packaging material contamination.

The differences between DIMS and GC approaches are presented.

Ensuring that volatile leachable impurities are at low levels in polymeric materials is very important for minimizing migration to food and pharmaceutical products.

For the BTEX compounds, detection limits in the single-digit parts-per-billion concentration range (by volume) are readily achievable within seconds using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS), because sample analysis is achieved without chromatography, preconcentration, or drying.