GC-MS with Cold EI and its Several Enhancement Technologies – Innovations Made in Israel

Aviv Amirav, Chemistry , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel (amirav@tau.ac.il)
Alexander Fialkov, Chemistry , Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Alexander Gordin, Chemistry , Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Alex Yakovchuk, Chemistry , Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Benny Neumark, Chemistry , Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
Oneg Elkabets, Chemistry , Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a widely used analytical technology. The most significant shortcomings of GC-MS are the often weak or absent molecular ions and the inability to analyze low volatility and thermally labile compounds.

We developed GC-MS with Cold EI that is based on electron ionization of vibrationally cold molecules in supersonic molecular beams (SMB) (hence the name Cold EI) in a contact-free fly-through ion source.

Cold EI improves all the performance aspects of GC-MS and provides enhanced molecular ions, best sample identification, extended range of compounds and applications amenable for analysis, faster analysis, uniform compound independent response and superior sensitivity particularly for difficult to analyze compounds.   

We also developed a range of GC-MS enhancement technologies that each can work with standard GC-MS but excels with Cold EI including:  

1.     Electron ionization LC-MS – providing library based identification at the isomer level, uniform response and absence of ion suppression for LC-MS. Our EI-LC-MS is based on minor modifications of the GC-MS with Cold EI interface. Recently, we also combined GC-MS and LC-MS with Cold EI in one system with method based mode changing.

2.     TAMI software for the provision of elemental formula from quadrupole based GC-MS and LC-MS data files. It excels with Cold EI due to availability of molecular ions for extended range of compounds.   

3.     ChromatoProbe sample introduction device for both MS probe operation and thermal desorption inlet with many benefits. Over 4000 units are in worldwide use. 

4.     Low thermal mass fast GC for enabling sub-one-minute full GC-MS analysis time.

5.     Open Probe Fast GC-MS – Real time analysis with separation and NIST library identification. It is commercially available by Agilent under the name QuickProbe.  

6.     Pulsed flow modulation GCxGC-MS which provides with Cold EI ultimate level of sample identification in complex mixtures.

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Short Biography of Presenting Author

Aviv Amirav is a Professor of Chemistry at Tel Aviv University and the Director of Aviv Analytical

Prof. Amirav is the author and co-author of 197 peer review papers and the inventor of twenty international patents.  

The research of Professor Amirav is aimed towards the development of novel analytical instruments and their related methods to aid the analysis of broad range applications. The research focus is GC-MS with Cold EI and its enhancement technologies in order to revolutionize the area of GC-MS with it. Special emphasis is given to collaborations with the international analytical instrument industry in order to obtain wide spread use of these scientific developments and inventions and to achieve this way real impact on mankind.