Identification of Drugs by Ultra Fast Liquid Chromatography/Electrospray Ionization‐Quadrupole Ion Trap/Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Hybrid quadrupole ion trap/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (QIT/TOFMS) was applied for detection of ultra fast liquid chromatography (UFLC). The system performance for fast qualitative analysis was evaluated using test drugs. The test drugs were separated on a C18 column (30 mm×2.0 mm I.D., particle size: 2.2 µm) with fast linear gradient elution using 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase. The flow rate was set at 0.5 mL/min and the analysis cycle time was 4.5 min. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) of retention time and peak area for each drug (200 pg each) were 0.2% or better, lower than 3%, respectively. Mass accuracy of each compound was found to be 3.2 ppm or better. Rapid positive to negative polarity switching mode was demonstrated, showing good mass accuracy below 5 ppm. Moreover, an MS3 measurement was carried out and the formulae of compounds were confirmed using formula prediction software.