Fatty acids and PAHs - GCMS

[itsbourne]

Hi,

The main usage of our GCMS is for detecting PAHs . We have some samples coming for analysis of fatty acids (FA). The column is same.

If we run FAs in between will it affect the detector? or column? any precautions to take?

Thanks in advance.
Jason

[Consumer Products Guy]

We make fatty acids into fatty acid methyl esters here, common for the industry.

[Don_Hilton]

After running samples for fatty acids, be sure to do inet maintanance and shoot a blank sample to be sure that you do not have any carry over. As far as the detector - check the tune of the instrument and look for indications of fouling of the source. They need to be cleaned on just about any instrument now and again.

[chromatonewbie]

Also probably a good idea to make sure you have a long enough bakeout time at the end of your temperature program if you are injecting FAMES. You don't want them carrying over into the next sample.

[itsbourne]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions

[tangaloomaflyer]

I'd go with the derivatisation to methyl esters - you'll get better chromatography and less damage to the column.