Time-condensed analyses by mass spectrometry.

Research has focused on the development of a new set of mathematical algorithms, encoded in C(++), when combined with a thermal desorption sample introduction system provides quantitative analysis of a wide mixture of organic compounds in under 10 min by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The overall goal is to condense the time of analysis, including both the times required for sample preparation and for chromatographic separation. In this paper, results are presented where compound identification has been made for polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in the same solution and where gas chromatography separation times have been reduced from 40 to 5 min. For the latter, all compounds elute within 3.5 min, with structural isomers identified as the same compound. The 5-min analysis provides the foundation for rapid screening and on-line chemical measurements of multicomponent mixtures. Results are also presented where these same compounds are quantitatively analyzed in 10 min, with structural isomers identified individually, in the presence of a (25% v/v) weathered gasoline/engine oil mixture. Time-condensed complex mixture detection is now feasible making possible quantitative, high-throughput sample analyses.