Common Cations and Amines Identification and Quantification Improved Using IC-MS

With MS detection, confirmation of the analyte identity can be achieved from full-scan spectra, and quantification can be achieved at low ppb levels with greater confidence by using selected ion monitoring (SIM) scans. Application Note 269: Identification and Quantification at ppb Levels of Common Cations and Amines by IC-MS demonstrates successful application of this method with analysis of water samples.

IC has been used extensively as the preferred separation technique for ionic species such as inorganic anions/cations, small amines, organic acids, peptides and proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. In recent years, however, the increasing demands for higher sensitivity, selectivity, and structural and confirmatory information has led to the emergence of MS as a powerful complementary detector for conductivity, ultraviolet (UV), and electrochemical detections. AN 269 demonstrates the enhanced performance benefits of using the Dionex ICS-2100 Reagent-Free™ Ion Chromatography (RFIC™) system in combination with the Thermo Fisher Scientific MSQ Plus™ mass spectrometric detector for low molecular weight analyses, covering most analytes for small-molecule IC applications.