A hybrid HRGC/MS/MS method for the characterization of tetrachlorinated-p-dioxins in environmental samples

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Abstract
A new instrumental method for the characterization of the analyte 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) by selected reaction monitoring (SRM) analysis is investigated. The method uses high-resolution gas chromatography coupled to a hybrid tandem mass spectrometer. The technique was evaluated with regard to four performance parameters: sensitivity, linearity, repeatability and selectivity. The method compares favorably with the traditional selected ion monitoring HRGC/HRMS technique, and the selectivity of the new method is shown to surpass the established HRGC/HRMS method. This new method could allow the characterization of samples that have undergone less rigorous cleanup than is now possible by the traditional mass spectrometric methods. The presence of TCDDs in a real sample was confirmed by using the new HRGC/(hybrid)MS/MS SRM method, which was not possible by using HRGC/HRMS analysis.