Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography

On-going developments in fast and two-dimensional chromatographic techniques and their applications in the gas chromatography and liquid chromatography analyses of contaminants and chemical residues in foods. Two-dimensional gas chromatography or liquid chromatography separations involve the use of two coupled columns of different selectivity to provide improved separation for sections of one-dimensional chromatogram or for the whole first dimension separation. The chapter reviews some current approaches to overcome matrix effects that may adversely affect the quantitative gas chromatography- and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric analyses of trace components in food matrices. Basic approaches to fast liquid chromatography are very similar to fast gas chromatography approaches. Differences exist because of a simple fact that liquid chromatography employs liquid and not gaseous mobile phases.

Analytical chemistry is that the study of the separation and measurement of the chemical elements of natural and artificial materials. Qualitative analysis allow an indication of the identity of the chemical species in the sample and quantitative analysis determines the amount of one or more of these components. The separation of components is frequently performed prior to analysis. Analytical techniques can be separated into classical and instrumental. Classical methods utilized for separations like precipitation, extraction, and distillation and qualitative analysis by colour, odour, or temperature. The instrumental techniques of chemical analysis are split-up into categories according to the property of the analyte that is to be measured. Several methods can be used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Mass spectrometry has appeared as front-runner methods in pharmaceutical analysis, covering both qualitative and quantitative aspects. In fact, the area of use of mass spectrometry is increasing at such a new rate that new applications are getting developed nearly on daily basis. Coupled to it is advancement within the instrumentation, which is trying to stay pace with the ever increasing demands on sensitivity and throughput, guided at times by the increasing stringency of regulatory requirements.

New mass spectrometry methods, collectively known as data independent analysis and hyper reaction monitoring, have recently appeared. The analysis of peptides generated by proteolysis digestion of proteins, known as bottom-up proteomics, serves as the basis for many of the protein research undertaken by mass spectrometry laboratories. Hybrid mass spectrometer first performs a survey, from which the peptide ions with the intensity exceeds a predefined threshold value, are stochastically selected, isolated and ordered by product ion scanning. N targeted proteomics, selected environmental monitoring, also known as multiple reaction monitoring, is used to monitor a number of selected precursor-fragment transitions of the targeted amino acids.

Mass spectrometry imaging is a technique used in mass spectrometry to visualize the spatial distribution of molecules, proteins by their molecular masses. After collecting a mass spectrum at one spot, the sample is progress to reach another region, and so on, until the entire sample is scanned. By selecting a peak in the resulting spectra that corresponds to the compound of interest, the Mass Spectrometry data is used to map its distribution across the sample. These outcomes the pictures of the spatially resolved distribution of a compound pixel by pixel.

High-performance liquid chromatography, formerly referred to as high-pressure liquid chromatography, is a technique in analytical chemistry used to separate, identify, and quantify each component in a mixture. It relies on pumps to pass a pressurized liquid solvent containing the sample mixture through a column filled with a solid adsorbent material. HPLC has been used for manufacturing, legal, research, and medical purposes.

The Chromatography industry is showing growth rapidly, with price awaited to hit 228 billion dollars by 2016, up from 164 US billion dollars within the year of earlier 2010, annual growth of nearly 7, according to a current industrial marketing research report. Geographically, global separation technique market has been divided into four areas particularly, North America, some parts of European region, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. The global chromatography instrumentation market is separated on the basis of systems, consumables, applications, and regions. The report shows the global chromatography instruments market for the forecast period of 2015 to 2020. The market is predicted to succeed in USD 9.223 Billion by 2020 from USD 7.062 Billion in 2015, at a CAGR of 5.5%.

Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry is an analytical chemistry technique that merges the physical separation capabilities of liquid chromatography with the mass analysis capabilities of mass spectrometry. Liquid chromatography divides mixtures with multiple components; mass spectrometry provides structural identity of the individual components with high molecular quality and detection sensitivity. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry is also applied in a wide range of sectors including biotechnology, environment monitoring, food processing and pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and cosmetic industries. Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry devices, an Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry system contains an interface that efficiently transfers the separated parts from the Liquid Chromatography column into the Mass Spectrometry ion source.

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is the type of normal phase chromatography that requires superficial fluid as mobile phase like carbon dioxide. It is used for the evaluation and purification of thermally labile molecules low to moderate molecular weight and for the separation of chiral compounds. The principles of super critical fluid chromatography are similar to high performance liquid chromatography, it uses carbon dioxide as the mobile phase, and therefore the pressure should be maintained throughout the entire chromatographic flow path. Sometimes super fluid chromatography is called convergence chromatography because supercritical phase represent a state where gas and liquid properties converge.