Evaluation of instrument performance for an automated identification and quantification system using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with hydrogen dedicated ion source and hydrogen carrier gas

Abstract

An automated identification and quantification system using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (AIQS-GC) can screening analysis of approximately 1000 chemical substances. It has been adopted as a Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and a provisional analytical manual by the Ministry of the Environment. To address potential helium carrier gas shortages, alternative gases like hydrogen and nitrogen are being considered. Hydrogen, in particular, shows minimal spectral changes when using a dedicated ion source. In this study, hydrogen and dedicated ion sources were applied to the AIQS-GC, with measurement conditions set to match helium's performance. The AIQS-GC met performance criteria for 20 out of 21 substances using hydrogen and a dedicated ion source. However, the sensitivity for all 21 substances decreased, suggesting that correction of quantitative values might be necessary if there is a significant difference in sensitivity reduction between the measured substances and internal standards. The AIQS-GC uses target ion and qualifier ion abundance (QT) ratio for substance identification, but low peak intensities caused some QT ratios, like that of captafol, to exceed standard values, requiring manual spectrum checks for accurate identification. Despite these issues, the AIQS-GC with hydrogen carrier gas and a dedicated ion source offers a new screening method for hazardous substances during helium shortages.