APPLICATIONS OF NEGATIVE ION CHEMICAL IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETRY TECHNIQUE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

With the availability of Negative Ion Chemical Ionization (NCI) mode of ionization on most bench top Mass Spectrometry (MS), many analytical problems involving the analysis of electron capturing organic compounds can be easily resolved. The Negative Ion Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry (NCI/MS) technique has been utilized for many types of analysis at the Environmental Protection Laboratory on a regular basis for routine analysis and resolving sensitivity, matrix and interference problems. NCI/MS is shown to provide inroads in the identification and lowering of detection limits for halogenated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and furans. NCI/MS specificity and selectivity are shown to eliminate interferences caused by substances such as plasticizers and other nonhalogenated compounds including petroleum products when analyzing contaminated sample extracts.