News from LabRulezGCMS Library - Week 16, 2026

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezGCMS Library in the week of 13th April 2026? Check out new documents from the field of the gas phase, especially GC and GC/MS techniques!

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This week we bring you application notes by Agilent Technologies, BaySpec, and Shimadzu and presentation by MDCW / SepSolve!

1. Agilent Technologies: Sensitive and Reproducible Determination of Nitrosamines by GC/MSD

Analysis of seven nitrosamines using the Agilent 5977 GC/MSD in positive chemical ionization mode with ammonia

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

Nitrosamines are a well known class of carcinogenic compounds that have been the subject of extensive scientific investigation and regulatory assessment for several decades.¹ In recent years, various regulatory authorities have established drinking water guidelines for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a disinfection byproduct of water treatment processes. 

In 2004, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published Method 521, a GC/MS-based method for the analysis of seven nitrosamines including NDMA in drinking water, supporting monitoring and regulatory programs.² In 2010, Health Canada proposed a maximum acceptable concentration for NDMA in drinking water of 40 ng/L.³ In the European Union (EU), several EU member states have introduced their own national limits for nitrosamines in drinking water. In Germany, for example, a concentration of 10 ng/L will trigger the initiation of remedial actions to reduce the concentration of NDMA.⁴ 

This application note demonstrates the ability of the Agilent 5977 Series GC/MSD to enable linear and reproducible detection of the seven nitrosamines included in EPA Method 521 using positive chemical ionization (PCI) with ammonia. 

Chemical ionization (CI) is a soft ionization technique used in mass spectrometry that enhances molecular ion visibility through controlled ion–molecule reactions. In CI, a reagent gas is ionized first, and the resulting reagent ions subsequently transfer charge to the analyte, producing significantly less fragmentation than conventional electron ionization (EI). 

PCI further improves sensitivity by generating predominantly protonated molecular ions [M +H]+ , concentrating the ion signal into a high-abundance species and delivering a stronger response and improved signal-to-noise ratios for trace-level compounds. Ammonia is an especially effective reagent gas for PCI due to its clean and efficient proton‑transfer chemistry, low background spectral contribution, and ability to produce stable, high-intensity molecular ions. 

These characteristics make ammonia PCI a highly suitable ionization mode for the sensitive and selective analysis of small polar contaminants such as nitrosamines, where low‑level detection and confident molecular ion identification are critical.

Conclusion 

The study has shown that the Agilent 5977 GC/MSD, operated in PCI mode with ammonia, delivers the sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility needed for trace-level nitrosamine analysis. The method demonstrated excellent linearity, with regression coefficients (R²) of 0.9989 or better across the 0.1 to 20.0 ppb range for six nitrosamines, and 0.9987 across the 0.5 to 20.0 ppb range for NPYR. Analytical repeatability was robust, with %RSD values < 4.8% at the lowest calibration level, indicating a stable and consistent instrument response. Instrument Detection Limits ranged from 0.0063 to 0.0655 ppb, demonstrating the system's ability to reliably distinguish analyte signals from instrumental noise. Overall, these results confirm the suitability of the 5977 GC/MSD as a sensitive and dependable platform for nitrosamine analysis in applications that require stringent trace‑level detection

2. BaySpec: Peptide sequencing using Continuity miniature mass spectrometer

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

Peptide identification and sequencing strategies by mass spectrometry have been very well-developed during the last 25 years after the soft ionization techniques have been introduced. When sequencing peptides with tandem mass spectrometry (MSⁿ), peptides are cleaved at various locations off their backbones to generate fragment ions of different masses based on their amino acid sequences. The most common product ions are the b-, y-, and a-ions generated from the cleavage of amide bond (CO-NH) and the subsequent loss of CO from the b-ions to form a-ions. The resulting MSⁿ spectra can be matched with a database or computed with an algorithm to get the original sequence of known or unknown peptides. 

Here we present an example of peptide sequencing with BaySpec’s highly-portable (22 kg) and battery operated Continuity -series portable mass spectrometer. It features a linear ion trap with collisionally induced dissociation (CID) for MSⁿ analysis, similar to the Portability series mass spectrometers. In addition, Continuity is equipped with a continuous atmospheric pressure sampling inlet with differential pumping, allowing the detection of a larger mass range (110 – 950 amu). BaySpec’s Continuity mass spectrometer is ideal for on-site peptide sequencing. In this application note, we show an example of peptide sequencing in a standard mixture (H2016, SigmaAldrich) with Continuity mass spectrometer. The mixture was dissolved in HPLC grade water, and then further diluted with an electrospray solution (50:50 methanol:water with 0.5% acetic acid). The diluted solution is directly infused into the API inlet of the Continuity mass spectrometer without any further treatment or separation.

Continuity^TM Mass Spectrometer 

The Continuity mass spectrometer is one of BaySpec’s newest portable instruments. Continuity features a continuous sampling atmospheric pressure inlet, wide mass range and high sensitivity. Designed to bring the benefits of powerful mass to the field, the Continuity can service a variety of bulk or trace detection applications, as well as scientific studies.

3. MDCW / SepSolve: Sniff smarter: Empowering GC–O with trap-based enrichment and GC×GC for advanced aroma profiling

• Presentation
• Full PDF for download

The presentation focuses on improving the correlation between chemical analysis and human sensory perception in complex samples such as food matrices. Traditional gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC–O) workflows face two major limitations: the presence of trace-level odorants with extremely low odour detection thresholds and the frequent co-elution of compounds, which makes it difficult to assign specific sensory attributes to individual analytes. As highlighted in the early slides, these challenges often result in discrepancies between what instruments detect and what the human nose perceives .

To address these issues, the study introduces trap-based enrichment as a key enhancement step. This approach enables pre-concentration and focusing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) prior to GC analysis, while selectively removing interferents such as water and air. The use of electrically cooled traps allows efficient analyte retention and rapid thermal desorption, improving sensitivity without the need for cryogens. Importantly, this enrichment strategy enhances the detectability of trace odorants, enabling better alignment between instrumental signals and sensory perception.

A second major advancement presented is the integration of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) coupled with TOF-MS and olfactory detection (GC×GC–O–TOF MS). Compared to conventional one-dimensional GC, GC×GC significantly increases separation capacity, effectively resolving co-eluting compounds. This enables more confident identification of odor-active compounds and clearer mapping between chromatographic peaks and recorded aroma descriptors. The workflow also incorporates an odour detection port (ODP), allowing simultaneous acquisition of chromatographic and sensory data, thereby bridging the gap between analytical chemistry and human olfaction.

The methodology is demonstrated using real-world applications, including citrus rind and orange juice analysis, where complex aroma profiles are investigated. The results show that GC×GC combined with enrichment and advanced data processing (e.g., Smart Subtract®) enables detailed comparison of sample variants (e.g., juice with vs. without pulp) and identification of subtle compositional differences. Overall, the study highlights that combining trap-based enrichment, GC×GC separation, and integrated sensory detection provides a powerful platform for comprehensive aroma profiling, improving both sensitivity and interpretability in flavour and fragrance analysis

4. Shimadzu: Dual-line Gas Analysis Using a Nexis GC-2060 Gas Chromatograph with a GI-30 Auto Gas Injector and BID and TCD Detectors

• Application note
• Full PDF for download

User Benefits

• The Nexis GC-2060 can be equipped with two GI-30 units, enabling automated gas analysis for two sample lines on a single GC. 
• The combination of TCD and BID detectors enables analysis of a wide range of sample concentrations. 
• Using the GI-30 auto gas injector enables automated gas-sample introduction with high repeatability

Gas analysis is performed across a wide range of fields, including resource and energy applications and environmental applications. Typical target analytes include inorganic gases such as H₂, N₂, CO, and CO₂, as well as light hydrocarbon gases such as CH₄. Because concentration ranges and matrices vary depending on the sample, detection sensitivity and separation performance must be optimized to meet the measurement objective. 

Both BID and TCD detectors can detect all compounds except carrier gases (BID cannot detect Ne). The BID is a Shimadzudeveloped detector that enables highly sensitive analysis of lowlevel components at the ppm level and simultaneous analysis of multiple compounds, including H₂. In contrast, the TCD provides stable analysis even at high concentrations on the order of percent, and it also has a short time from startup to analysis readiness. Using both detectors together allows a single GC system to cover a wide concentration range from low to high. 

This article describes dual-line gas analysis using a Nexis GC-2060 equipped with both a BID and a TCD, combined with automated sample introduction using the GI-30 auto gas injector. By combining a BID and a TCD,samples across a broad concentration range can be measured. In addition, automated introduction of gas samples using the GI-30 improves repeatability in continuous analysis and enhances operational efficiency.

Dual-LineGas Analysis Using the GI-30

The GI-30 is an auto gas injector that enables automated, continuous analysis of gas samples (Fig. 1 (right) shows a schematic diagram of the GI-30). With its highly expandable design, the Nexis GC-2060 can be equipped with two GI-30 units (Fig. 1 (left)). This enables high-throughput automated gas analysis of two sample lines on a single GC. In addition, because the injection unit, column, detector, and carrier gas can be configured independently for each line, the system can accommodate gas samples with diverse compositions and concentrations. In this application, Line 1 was configured with an SPI/BID to provide highly sensitive detection of low-level components. The SPI is a split/splitless injection unit dedicated to gas analysis. Its high airtightness and inert deactivation of the flow path help suppress ambient air intrusion and analyte adsorption, making it effective for analyzing trace atmospheric components (e.g., N₂ and O₂) and components that tend to adsorb. In contrast, Line 2 was configured with an SPL/TCD. Using an SPL injection unit also allows liquid sample analysis and manual injection with a gas-tight syringe.

Conclusion

Low- and high-concentration gas samples were analyzed simultaneously on two lines using a Nexis GC-2060 equipped with two GI-30 units and a BID/TCD. By adopting a dual-line configuration with dual GI-30 units and selecting the injection unit, column, detector, and carrier gas according to the measurement objective, it is possible to expand the range of sample concentrations and compositions that can be measured. In addition, automated, continuous gas analysis using the GI-30 reduces the analyst’s workload and enables highly repeatable analysis that is difficultto achieve with manual introduction.