Indirect hydrogen analysis by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS)

Abstract

Gas chromatography (GC) is an analytical tool very useful to investigate the composition of gaseous mixtures. The different gases are separated by specific columns but, if hydrogen (H2 ) is present in the sample, its detection can be performed by a thermal conductivity detector or a helium ionization detector. Indeed, coupled to GC, no other detector can perform this detection except the expensive atomic emission detector. Based on the detection and analysis of H2 isotopes by low-pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (MS), a new method for H2 detection by GC coupled to MS with an electron ionization ion source and a quadrupole analyser is presented. The presence of H2 in a gaseous mixture could easily be put in evidence by the monitoring of the molecular ion of the protonated carrier gas.

Quantitative Determination of H2 in Human Blood by 22Ne-aided Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Using a Single Quadrupole Instrument

“…Detection of H2 by GC-MS using a single quadrupole instrument H2, as had been previously reported, is difficult to detect by GC-MS using a single quadrupole instrument. [11][12][13] The H2 assay was performed in the full scan mode using a TC-Molsieve 5A capillary column (single column, 30 m × 0.32 mm) for inorganic gas analysis. Analysis of the H2 standard gas (1% in He) revealed a peak at a retention time of 1.4 min (Fig.…”

“…The determination of H2 in forensic science is typically by GC with a thermal conductivity detector (GC-TCD). [2][3][4][11][12][13] H2, detected by a lactose breath test, is employed as a biomarker of lactose intolerance and features GC-TCD 14 and GC with a metal oxide detector. 15,16 The highly sensitive discharge ionization detector (DID), He ionization detector (HID), and dielectricbarrier discharge ionization detector (BID) can also be used to detect H2.…”

“…Previous reports have indicated that the detection of H2, possessing a lower molecular weight than He (employed as the carrier gas), was impossible by GC coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using a single quadrupole instrument. [11][12][13] Therefore, Varlet et al 12 indirectly detected H2 as protonated He by GC-MS using a special column, which consisted of two capillary columns set in parallel: molecular sieve capillary and porous-layer open tabular (PLOT) capillary columns, designed for gas analysis. Conversely, in environmental and earth sciences, the analysis of H2 is typically performed on an isotoperatio mass spectrometer (IRMS) and quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer (QITMS).…”

Carbon-14 Release and Speciation During Corrosion of Irradiated Steel Under Radioactive Waste Disposal Conditions

“…Hydrogen (H 2 ) was detected by MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode with standard EI parameters (i.e. 70 eV collision energy and 230 °C MS source temperature) and appeared in the chromatogram with the specific mass fragment 5 generated by protonation of the carrier gas (He) with by H + , as described elsewhere (Varlet et al, 2013). Standards were prepared in 20 mL vials in the dynamic range between 0 and 8 μg H 2 /mL gas volume using pure H 2 (Messer Schweiz AG, Lenzburg, Switzerland) diluted with N 2 after pressure equalization.…”

The Place of Gas Analysis in Forensic Toxicology

“…For example, hydrogen cannot directly be analysed by GC-MS. With most of mass spectrometers, gases lighter than the carrier gas cannot be detected. Using MS, hydrogen can only be put in evidence indirectly by carrier gas protonation but it can be directly and easily measured with TCD [24]. However, TCD quantification requires external calibration which can introduce some bias (in case of leaks from an analysis to another) and is not as sensitive as MS. CO quantification is also another case where MS performance is questionable.…”