Gel permeation chromatography – Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization – Mass spectrometry for characterization of polymer additives

ABSTRACT

The study presents the possibility to use gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-mass spectrometry for the analysis of polymer additives having molecular weights up to 2,000 g mol⁻¹. Irganox 1010, Irganox 1035, Irganox 1076, and Irganox 3114 were analyzed in chloroform using 2.1-mm-internal-diameter GPC columns at the optimum flow rate of 50 µL min⁻¹. Based on the chemical formula, the APCI interface combined with chlorine ionization enabled us to predict the expected mass spectrum and to build libraries without needing to inject each additive separately. Quantification limits of about 100 µg of additive in 1 g of polymer (100 ppm) can be reached using single-ion-monitoring methods based on the calculated isotope distribution.

KEYWORDS:

• APCI
• chloroform
• GPC-MS
• polymer additives