Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Chromatography toward Separation and Identification of Organic Mixtures

Abstract

Mass spectrometers can provide information about molecular composition and chemical structure. However, with complex mixtures, superpositions and even suppression of signals may occur. On the other hand, Chromatography is an ideal technique for separating complexes but is often insufficient for compound identification. Hence, coupling both techniques in order to eliminate the limitations of each technique makes perfect sense. In this contribution, a brief description of mass spectrometry coupled with chromatography in the gas and liquid phase will be discussed to explain the advantages of coupling the two methods. The ionization techniques are also reported and followed by application areas of these techniques. Finally, the recording and treatment of the results are reviewed.