Nitrogen for Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
What is LC-MS?
LC-MS is a separation technique for the analysis of compounds in a mixture, e.g. pharmaceutical products, which can identify and quantify compounds such as contaminant, degradation products or unknown compounds (e.g. in forensic science) in complex matrices. This separation technique is used in a wide range of industries (pharmaceutical development and manufacture, clinical biochemistry and toxicology, water purity testing and academic research).
How does it work?
A chemical mixture is first separated using liquid chromatography. The separated components are quantified or identified using a mass selective detector which allows accurate and reproducible measurement of amount of each component (”analyte”) present.
The benefits of the LC-MS in Analytical Chemistry
- The process can be used to identify and quantify complex compound mixes in challenging sample matrices, with relative speed and simplicity.
- Very sensitive technique, capable of measuring levels down to 0.000 000 000 000 000 001 (10-18) grams of compound.
- The technique allows faster analysis times to test substances, increased throughput and reducing labour costs for the laboratory.