Application of mass spectrometry in the regulatory analysis of pesticides and industrial chemicals in food and feed commodities.

During regulatory analysis of pesticides and industrial chemicals, compounds are frequently encountered which cannot be readily identified by gas chromatography alone on two or more stationary phases. Such incurred unknown analytical responses are examined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry, particularly if they have been shown to contain P, S, N or halogen via specific gas chromatography detectors. Seven case histories are presented to illustrate the analytical approach adopted to structurally elucidate such compounds at the ppm level. These examples demonstrate the potential complementary combination provided by low resolution electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry in structural determinations.