Skip To Content

My Column is Bleeding

March 2, 2010
by Arvin Moser, Team Manager, Application Scientists, ACD/Labs

Whenever a GC column is used to identify and/or quantify a sample, the column stationary phase can bleed into the MS source along with the sample. High column bleed can hinder the analysis of a sample. The resulting spectral interference typically manifests itself as discrete peaks and/or an increase in the drift of the baseline, which in turn, produces data with low signal-to-noise and poor sensitivity.

The GC-EI mass spectra below are two examples showing high column bleed. The ion peaks at m/z 73, 133, 193, 207, 267, 281, 355 and 429 are not part of the purified sample but pertain to the column stationary phase. The major column bleed ion, m/z 207, is a result of the formation of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane. The presence of these characteristic masses for siloxanes indicates there is a significant column bleed and that the column may need replacing.

 

ColumnBleed_MS1_Mar12010 ColumnBleed_MS2_Mar12010

Join our newsletter!

Keep up-to-date with our quarterly newsletter that brings you the latest educational webinars, resources, tips, and tricks.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join our newsletter!

Keep up-to-date with our quarterly newsletter that brings you the latest educational webinars, resources, tips, and tricks.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.