Meaning
High performance liquid chromatographic separation combined with high resolution accurate mass spectrometry isolates and identifies non-volatile organic compounds in liquid extracts. In food contact material testing and polymer additive analysis, LC QTOF MS screening detects unknown migrants, antioxidants and slip agents without prior target selection. The system operates by separating liquid extracts on a reverse phase column before electrospray ionization and quadrupole mass filtering.
Boundary limits appear when target compounds fail to ionize under standard electrospray conditions or remain insoluble in liquid mobile phases.
Ionization Separation
Chromatographic columns separate additives based on polarity differences prior to mass analysis. Electrospray ionization converts liquid phase analytes into gas phase ions without causing extensive fragment fragmentation. Quadrupole mass filters select specific ion ranges or allow all ions to enter the collision cell for structural fragmentation analysis.
Mass Accuracy
Time of flight analyzers deliver high mass accuracy that resolves isobaric species with identical nominal mass values. Empirical formula generation restricts possible molecular formulas to single chemical structures. Database matching against accurate mass libraries confirms additive identities without requiring pure analytical reference standards.
Extractable Profiling
Solvent extractions from plastic packaging reveal potential migrating species under accelerated aging conditions. Screening data verifies chemical compliance for food contact polymers before commercial release.
