Comparison of a jet separator and an open splitter as an interface between a multi-capillary gas chromatographic column and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

A gas chromatographic/time-of-flight mass spectrometric (GC/TOFMS) interface is being developed for fast on-line analysis utilizing multi-capillary column technology. A variable gap-distance jet separator has been constructed and its performance compared with that of a commercially supplied post-column open splitter recommended for use between the multi-capillary column and a mass spectrometer. Both interfaces were found to be compatible with the GC/TOFMS system at high carrier gas flow-rates, facilitating high-speed and high-resolution separations. The systems were investigated and tested with a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with molecular masses from 85 to 166: dichloromethane, toluene, m-dichlorobenzene, o-dichlorobenzene and tetrachloroethylene. The optimum tip-to-tip gap distance corresponding to the highest efficiency of the jet separator was found to be 0.030 mm for each compound at carrier gas flow-rates of 20, 40 and 60 ml min(-1) giving, in the ion source housing, ion gauge pressure readings of 1.6 x 10(-6), 5.0 x 10(-6) and 5.8 x 10(-6) mbar, respectively. The efficiency of the jet separator (10-30% yields) was significantly higher than that of the open splitter (6-9% yields). The observation that the open splitter did not provide a constant flow-rate to the ion source was not in agreement with the manufacturer's specifications. A method for measuring the gas flow-rates in all parts of the equipment is described. The correlation between yield in the jet separator and molecular mass for the heterogeneous set of compounds studied was found to be less linear than usually reported for homologous series of compounds in jet separator studies. The result suggests that the pressure conditions in the jet may be sufficient for the separation process to be partly controlled by diffusion rather than predominately by effusion. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.