Liquid electron ionization-mass spectrometry as a novel strategy for integrating normal-phase liquid chromatography with low and high-resolution mass spectrometry

Abstract

Normal-phase liquid chromatography (NPLC) plays a pivotal role in the rapid separation of non-polar compounds, facilitating isomer separation and finding applications in various crucial areas where aprotic solvents are necessary. Similar to reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), NPLC requires a robust and sensitive detector to unequivocally identify the analytes, such as a mass spectrometer. However, coupling NPLC with mass spectrometry (MS) poses challenges due to the incompatibility between the non-polar solvents used as the mobile phase and the primary ionization techniques employed in MS. Several analytical methods have been developed to combine NPLC with electrospray ionization (ESI), but these methods are restricted to the analysis of polar compounds. In most cases, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) becomes necessary to expand the range of analysis applications. To overcome these limitations and fully realize the potential of NPLC-MS coupling, a technique termed liquid electron ionization-mass spectrometry (LEI-MS) can be used. LEI-MS offers a straightforward solution by enabling the effective coupling of NPLC with both low and high-resolution MS. LEI allows for the comprehensive analysis of non-polar compounds and provides a powerful tool for isomer separation and precise identification of analytes. Optimal separations, mass spectral qualities, and matches with the NIST library were obtained in both configurations, demonstrating the potential of the proposed approach.