Analysis of Volatile Compounds

Knowledge of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques using electron impact ionization and a quadrupole mass analyzer for the analysis of volatile organic molecules.

1) GC-MS analyses of volatile organic compounds:

• Electron Impact (EI) Ionization Techniques
• Chemical Ionization (CI) Techniques
• Quadrupole (Q) Analysis Techniques
• GC/MS Couplings

2) Applications in organic chemistry analysis and the characterization of volatile samples.

Hourly Volumes*:

CM: 3:00 p.m.

TD: 5 hours

Understand the techniques of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) suitable for the analysis of a volatile organic molecule.

Be able to interpret GC-MS data.

Understand and be able to analyze the strategy used to characterize a vaporizable sample.

Mass Spectrometry, Level L3:

Basics (gas-phase ion generation and measurement, instrument diagram)

2-hour final written exam:

• Authorized documents: No
• Non-graphical calculators allowed: yes
• Internet access allowed: No

Course: Inductive (problem-based) and deductive pedagogy. Materials available on the digital learning platform (Moodle): Course materials, tutorial materials, past exam questions, and reference publications.

Description of conventional mass spectrometry techniques coupled with gas chromatography for the qualitative analysis of volatile organic molecules.

1. Gas Chromatography (3H)

- Principle,

- FID detection,

- Detection by mass spectrometry.

1. Hard ionization methods: (6H)

• Electronic Impact (EI):

-Production of molecular ions and fragment ions,

-Description of the main fragmentation families.

• Chemical ionization (CI).

1. Analytical Methods: (3H)

• Measurement accuracy and elemental composition,
• Low-resolution quadrupole analyzer.

1. Combined technique: (3H)

- The principle of GC/MS,

- GC/MS data acquisition.

TD (5 hours): Individual work; exercises to be prepared before and during the session.

Case studies with illustrations in various fields of application (interpretation of EI-MS and GC/EI-MS spectra of volatile organic molecules).