| Abstract: | The analysis of polar compounds by mass spectrometry has traditionally required prior conversion to a volatile derivative. The advent of Fast Atom Bombardment (FAB) allows the direct analysis of such compounds and offers the prospect of quantitative analysis without sample pretreatment. An application of quantitative FAB is described which demonstrates the techniques involved and their practical limitations. The method is both fast and highly specific. The problem of matrix effects is readily overcome by the use of a suitable internal standard, and in the work described, an amino acid has been used as the internal standard. The problem of background interference is less easily solved, and a number of approaches have been tried. Two additional new mass spectrometry techniques for the trace analysis of polar compounds are discussed. |
