Optimization and application of high-resolution gas chromatography with ion trap tandem mass spectrometry to the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in atmospheric aerosols

Optimization of the Finnigan GCQ ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS) system a nd a clean-up procedure were carried out in order to apply high-resolution gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of polychlorin ated biphenyls (PCBs) in aerosols. Six ITMS operating parameters, including isolation time, excitation voltage, excitation time, "q" value, ion source temperature and electron energy were adjusted in order to optimize the ins trument analytical performance. The adjustment of all parameters substantia lly increased the sensitivity of ITMS in the MS-MS mode. Changes in isolati on time did not particularly affect ITMS sensitivity while ion source tempe rature had the strongest influence. After optimization, a limit of detectio n of 600 fg/mul with S/N varying from 8 up to 91 was achieved. The applicat ion of the optimized ITMS parameters conjointly with the developed clean-up procedure resulted in method detection limits of 10-20 fg/m(3) for the det ermination of PCBs, in the particulate and gas phase of the atmospheric aer osol of background areas in the Eastern Mediterranean and Sweden. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.