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High Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Detecting trace amounts of highly toxic pollutants is of vital importance in protecting the environment and people's health. Pollutants such as dioxins/dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and N-nitrosodimethylamine are known to be highly carcinogenic and/or mutagenic. The High Resolution Mass Spectrometry section in the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division is equipped with three state-of-the-art high resolution gas chromatograph/high resolution mass spectrometers (HRGC/HRMS) that produce the highest quality data at ultra trace levels of these compounds.

Shraddha Quarderer, Senior Research Scientist

Technical strengths in the section include:

  • Detection of trace dioxins/furans, PCBs, PAHs, and other semivolatile pollutants in ambient air, point source emissions, wastewater and drinking water, soil, sediment, surface wipes, hazardous waste, biological matrices, and personnel exposure samples

  • Automated process using three high resolution mass spectrometers
  • Results in as few as 48 hours, if necessary

  • Protocols according to Environmental Protection Agency Contract Laboratory Protocol, Department of Energy Nuclear Quality Program NQA-1, and Good Laboratory Practices

  • Other nonroutine chemical analyses that provide vital information such as exact masses and molecular formulas of chemicals

Division Publications

Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Department
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division
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 March 25, 2013