Packed column supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry for high-throughput analysis

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Separation Science

Background:

• High-throughput analysis is crucial for modern research, particularly in areas like combinatorial chemistry.
• Existing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods can be time-consuming for large sample sets.
• Improving the speed and selectivity of analytical techniques is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a supercritical fluid chromatograph interfaced to a mass spectrometer (SFC/MS) for high-throughput applications.
• To demonstrate the speed and accuracy of SFC/MS for analyzing multicomponent mixtures.
• To develop and report a negative mode atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) method for SFC/MS.

Main Methods:

• Interfacing a supercritical fluid chromatograph (SFC) with a mass spectrometer (MS).
• Developing and applying a high-throughput SFC/MS method.
• Utilizing negative mode atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) for analysis.
• Comparing SFC/MS performance against traditional LC/MS.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 3-fold reduction in analysis cycle time compared to high-throughput LC/MS.
• Demonstrated improved selectivity and accuracy for multicomponent mixture analysis.
• Successfully applied a negative mode APCI method for SFC/MS analysis of library production mixtures.
• Showcased benefits for flow injection analysis (FIA), including broader solvent compatibility and reduced sample carryover.

Conclusions:

• SFC/MS offers a significant advancement in high-throughput analytical chemistry, enabling substantial time savings.
• The developed SFC/MS method provides enhanced selectivity and accuracy for complex mixture characterization.
• The system's flexibility and efficiency make it suitable for analyzing large sample libraries and improving overall analytical workflows.