An application note from PerkinElmer describes the capabilities of the TurboMass mass spectrometer and AutoSystem gas chromatograph for drinking water and solid waste analyses
Wastewater analysis is particularly challenging, with the range of compounds to be measured varying according to industry, and matrices as simple as drinking water or as complex as hazardous wastes.
Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry has become indispensable in the analysis of challenging environmental samples, because confirmation can be achieved in the same step as the analysis.
US EPA methods using GC/MS routinely specify 40-100 compounds that may be measured in a single run.
An application note available from PerkinElmer Instruments describes the capabilities of the TurboMass mass spectrometer and AutoSystem gas chromatograph for drinking water and solid waste analyses.
A new approach combines selected ion recording for increased sensitivity with full scan ion monitoring to confirm analyte identification.
Simultaneous use of both techniques provides both primary and supporting information in a single chromatographic run.
For solid waste samples, sensitivity is improved by the use of large volume injection, while solvent purging, before the analytes of interest are introduced into the column, ensures efficient analysis of a larger volume sample.
Instrumentation, methods and results are discussed and illustrated with particular reference to EPA method requirements.
