Gas chromatographic determination of phosphorus, sulfur and halogens using a water-cooled torch with reduced-pressure helium microwave-induced plasma mass spectrometry

A system is described that utilizes a reduced-pressure water cooled microwave-induced plasma torch to interface a gas chromatograph with a plasma mass spectrometer. The detection limits vary with the compound used. For phosphorus in triethyl phosphate the detection limit is 86 pg and for chlorine in chlorotoluene, it is 22 pg. A seven component mixture was analysed simultaneously for compounds containing chlorine (m/z 35 and m/z 37), phosphorus (m/z 31), sulfur (m/z 32), bromine (m/z 79 and m/z 81) and iodine (m/z 127). A Supelco pesticide mixture was also analysed with simultaneous detection of chlorine and sulfur. Sub-nanogram detection limits were obtained for all elements studied.