Improving efficiency in drinking water analysis by high-end GC-QMS ~ Scan quantification of VOCs, 2-MIB & Geosmin, haloacetic acids, formaldehyde, Phenol by double column connection
MSTips No. 346
Of the drinking water quality standards in Japan, the GC-MS method is adopted as the inspection method for 19 test items. The 19 test items covered by the GC-MS method are classified into 5 groups as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), substances causing musty odors (2-methylisoborneol, geosmin), haloacetic acids, formaldehyde, and phenols. One or more official methods have been established for each group. We already have reported an analysis application using the same column for the purpose of improving operational efficiency in these water quality analyses. The same column analysis of VOCs, 2-MIB, and geosmin using a mid-polar column was reported in MSTips No.334. The same column analysis of haloacetic acids, formaldehyde, and phenols using a non-polar column was reported in MSTips No.325.
JEOL Ltd. released the 6th generation high-end GC-QMS "JMS-Q1600GC UltraQuad™ SQ-Zeta" in 2021. We report on the construction of a system that enables measurement of all GC-MS items of water quality standards with a single instrument using the JMS-Q1600GC. The system can measure all test items without the need for column replacement by connecting a mid-polar column and a non-polar column to one JMS-Q1600GC in a double column configuration. In addition, by using the new attachment "High Performance Ion Source (EPIS)", an easier "Scan quantification" is possible instead of the "SIM quantification" that requires complicated condition settings. This MSTips reports the results of the evaluation of the linearity of the calibration curves for each item and the repeatability at a lower concentration limit.