Effect of column bleed on trueness of high-resolution mass spectrometric determination of dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofuranes, and polychlorinated biphenyls

Abstract

Effect of column bleed on trueness of determination of trace levels of dibenzofuranes (PCDD/F) and biphenyls (PCB) by gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) was studied. As a result of extensive bleed of an arylenesiloxane capillary column, fluctuations of abundance ratios of monitored ions were observed, making exact determination of target analytes impossible. These effects were observed on food samples as well as on pure standard mixtures. The column bleed affected the abundance ratios of PCDD/F and PCB within the range of 13–328 pg of target analyte/mL, and higher levels of analytes remained intact. An analysis of diluted calibration mixtures is recommended as a tool for detection of column bleed.