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Implementation of the Pressure Controlled Tee for Backflushing for the 7000 Series Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer: Implications for Sensitivity

Abstract: The 7000 Series Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer is designed to provide the most sensitive and specific analytical determinations in gas chromatography. The enhanced specificity of GC/MS/MS analysis encourages a more relaxed or minimized sample preparation strategy with the aim of higher sample throughput and sample turnaround time. However these more complex samples can rapidly degrade the gas chromatograph (GC) and mass spectrometer (MS) performance. Applying backflushing helps maintain the GC and the MS source by removing later eluting compounds from the column before reaching the MS, and prior to the next sample injection. This note cites the results of the Pressure Controlled Tee (PCT) configuration for rapid and universal GC/MS backflushing applied to selected reaction monitoring experiments on the Agilent 7890 GC used with the Agilent 7000 Series Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer. The results show no loss in sensitivity and precision as measured for the peak area, height or signal-to-noise ratio in the 272&241 m/z for octafluoronaphthalene. This means that rapid backflushing and quick column and inlet maintenance without venting the MS system can be incorporated without a loss in detection limits using a simple PCT configuration.

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