Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry using glass lined stainless steel microbore columns

Combined liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry using a moving belt interface and commercially available glass lined stainless steel microbore reverse phase liquid chromatographic columns is described. The chromatographic performance is comparable with that obtained with conventional columns, and the lower mobile phase flow rates used enable improved liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric sensitivities to be obtained since all the liquid chromatographic eluent can be handled by the interface and instrumental background due to solvent impurities is reduced. The utility of the approach is illustrated with studies of extracts from timbo powder, Imperatoria ostruthium and Calophyllum inophyllum. Using the carbamate pesticides IPC and CIPC the potential of microbore liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for quantitative studies is demonstrated.