Pushing the Limits of Sample Identification by GC-MS with Cold EI

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

GC-MS with Cold EI is based on interfacing a gas chromatograph (GC) and a mass spectrometer (MS) with a supersonic molecular beam (SMB), along with electron ionization of vibrationally cold sample compounds in the SMB in a fly-through ion source (hence the name Cold EI). Cold EI improves all the central GC-MS performance aspects including the provision of: enhanced molecular ions, significantly extended range of compounds that are amenable for analysis, much faster analysis, lower limits of detection, improved selectivity and uniform response.          

Cold EI is the best mass spectrometry technology for sample identification in a wide range of applications since it enables and provides:

1. 
   The elution of large and labile compounds to enable their identification.


2. 
   Enhanced molecular ions and high-mass fragment ions.


3. 
   Improved library search and identification capabilities. (The only soft ionization method that enables NIST library identification.)


4. 
   The cleanest molecular ions for improved confidence in the identity of the molecular ions.


5. 
   Highest sample compound peak-to-baseline ratio for having clear mass spectra.


6. 
   Elemental formulae are provided with unit-resolution quadrupole MS with our TAMI software, based on isotope abundance analysis of molecular ions.


7. 
   Fragmentation tunability to help in compounds structure elucidation.


8. 
   Classical EI mass spectra can be obtained with the same fly-through ion source with method-based mode changing.


9. 
   Isomer distribution analysis is enabled for fuels and oils properties optimization.


10. 
    Achieving the lowest limits of identification (identification at very low levels).

Accordingly, Cold EI sets a new standard in EI and provides the best possible compound identification among GC-MS and LC-MS. 

 

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Short Biography of Presenting Author

I am a professor of chemistry at Tel Aviv University. My research is aimed towards the development of novel analytical instruments and their related methods to aid the analysis of broad-range applications. My current research focus is GC-MS with Cold EI as the best GC-MS technology. Special emphasis is given to collaborations with the international analytical instrument industry in order to obtain wide-spread use of my scientific developments and inventions and to achieve this way real impact on mankind.