The development and inter-laboratory verification of LC–MS libraries for organic chemicals of environmental concern

Authors

Charlita Rosal, U.S. EPA
Don Betowski, U.S. EPA
Joe Romano, Waters Corporation
Joshua Neukom, U.S. EPA
Dennis Wesolowski, U.S. EPA
Lawrence Zintek, U.S. EPAFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2009

Citation

Published in Talanta 79 (2009) 810–817. DOI:10.1016/j.talanta.2009.05.004

Abstract

The development, verification, and comparison study between LC–MS libraries for two manufacturers’ instruments and a verified protocol are discussed. Compounds in the libraries are among those considered by the U.S. EPA Office of Water as threats to drinking water including pesticides, drugs of abuse, and pharmaceuticals. The LC–MS library protocol was verified through an inter-laboratory study that involved Federal, State, and private laboratories. The results demonstrated that the libraries are transferable between the same manufacturer’s product line, and have applicability between manufacturers. Although ion abundance ratios within mass spectra were shown to be different between the manufacturers’ instruments, the NIST search engine match probability was at 96% or greater for 64 out of 67 compounds evaluated.