Ultrapure water for liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry studies

Improvements in trace enrichment techniques combined with the sensitivity of mass spectrometry offer enhanced opportunities to analyze ever lower concentrations of drugs, metabolites, pesticides or environmental pollutants. To perform HPLC and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analyses under optimum conditions, the water used for mobile phase preparation needs to be highly purified and delivered on demand. Indeed, both UV photodiode array detection and MS detection methods are sensitive to organic contaminants (total organic carbon, TOC), and the water quality has a direct impact on the achievable detection limits. The benefits of UV photooxidation on TOC reduction for LC–MS studies were highlighted using electrospray ionization MS detection by comparing HPLC-grade bottled water, freshly produced UV185/254-treated water, and freshly produced non-UV-treated water.