Sample throughput is often a critical bottleneck when analyzing volatiles in contract testing or research laboratories. In particular, many volatiles, such as those with low polarity or low molecular weight, fall into an awkward gap between conventional gas and liquid chromatographic techniques (GC and LC).
SIFT-MS is an excellent solution to this problem and is an easy-to-adopt complement to GC and LC techniques. SIFT-MS is a form of direct mass spectrometry that provides real-time detection of VOCs and many inorganic gases to sub-part-per-billion concentrations (by volume; ppbV) without preconcentration, derivatization or drying. Automation of SIFT-MS creates a high-throughput analytical tool that addresses these throughput challenges.
This webcast (the first of a four-part series) demonstrates the advantages of applying automated SIFT-MS to volatile compound analysis in diverse matrices: from air to the headspace of polymer, soil or water samples. SIFT-MS is not simply advantageous for throughput reasons; it can also support faster method optimization for conventional methods (such as headspace equilibration times). SIFT-MS is easy to adopt, easy to automate and can be utilized in a manner analogous to traditional chromatographic methods.
Subsequent webcasts in this series build on these basic advantages of SIFT-MS, showing practical, proven strategies for adopting automated SIFT-MS in your routine analysis workflow. We will also include example data and case studies from a range of application areas: from pharmaceutical to environmental analysis.
Key Learning Objectives:
- The analytical challenges associated with using only chromatographic methods to analyze volatiles
- How the challenges of volatiles analysis can be addressed using direct MS, which provides higher sample throughputs, faster method development and validation, and improved analysis of challenging volatiles (such as formaldehyde and hydrogen sulfide)
- How the specific direct MS technique called SIFT-MS works
- How SIFT-MS analysis can be automated across a wide range of lab applications, such as headspace analysis, sample bags and thermal desorption tubes