[Discrimination of plasticizers and screening of phthalates in polyvinyl chloride using DART-TOF/MS]

A technique using a direct analysis in real time (DART) ion source coupled with time of flight/mass spectrometry (TOF/MS) was developed to discriminate plasticizers and to screen phthalates in polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In DART-TOF/MS analysis of 40 plasticizers, the protonated molecular ion, [M+H](+), was detected for most plasticizers, and the molecular weight could be easily predicted. In the analysis of PVC sheets and toys, mass spectra of plasticizers were successfully detected, and accordingly, plasticizers in PVC were easily discriminated. PVC with a phthalates content in excess of 0.1% could be screened accurately according to the DART-TOF/MS ion intensity of phthalates corresponding to the limit of detection or a suitable criterion value. DART-TOF/MS analysis is a simple and rapid technique that is suitable for the discrimination of plasticizers and for screening of phthalates in PVC.