Diluting modulation-based two dimensional-liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for simultaneously...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Chromatography
• Mass Spectrometry

Background:

• Ensuring cosmetic safety requires effective screening for prohibited substances.
• Current methods may lack comprehensive coverage or suffer from matrix effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel heart-cutting two-dimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (2D-LC-MS) method.
• To enhance the detection of multiclass prohibited substances in cosmetic products.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a heart-cutting 2D-LC-MS system combining Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography (HILIC) and Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography (RPLC).
• Implemented online diluting modulation to address mobile phase incompatibility and improve focusing.
• Analyzed 126 prohibited substances across various chemical classes in cosmetic samples.

Main Results:

• Achieved good separation for compounds with a wide polarity range.
• Demonstrated excellent column-head focusing and reduced sensitivity loss.
• Obtained high correlation coefficients (>0.9950) with low Limits of Detection (LODs) and Quantification (LOQs).
• Showcased improved analytical coverage, reduced matrix effects, and enhanced sensitivity for polar analytes compared to 1D-LC methods.

Conclusions:

• The developed 2D-LC-MS method is a powerful and effective tool for screening multiclass prohibited substances in cosmetics.
• This method contributes to ensuring the quality and safety of cosmetic products for consumers.