DualData XL DFS Magnetic Sector GC-HRMS High Throughput Analysis of Polychlorinated Dioxins/Furans (PCDD/Fs)

Importance of the topic

Magnetic sector high-resolution GC-MS remains the benchmark for ultratrace determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs). However, lengthy chromatographic run and idle times limit daily sample throughput. Introducing a dual-GC, single-MS configuration with dynamic flow switching significantly enhances laboratory productivity without compromising sensitivity or chromatographic quality.

Objectives and study overview

This study evaluates the DualData XL module for the Thermo Scientific DFS magnetic sector GC-HRMS system. The main goals are:

• To demonstrate elimination of chromatographic “dead time” via staggered injections on two GCs.
• To compare analytical performance (sensitivity, resolution, peak shape) against a conventional dual-GC setup.
• To quantify the increase in sample throughput for dioxin/furan analyses.

Used Instrumentation

• Thermo Scientific DFS Magnetic Sector GC-HRMS configured in Multiple Ion Detection (MID) mode at 10,000 resolution (10% valley definition).
• Two Thermo Scientific TRACE 1310 gas chromatographs equipped with DualData XL dynamic flow switching modules and proprietary microfluidic channel devices (MCD).
• Thermo Scientific TriPlus RSH autosampler with extended x-rail delivering samples to both GCs.

Methodology

Two TRACE 1310 GCs were fitted with dual column adapters and MCD flow-switching modules. Samples were injected alternately into each GC in a staggered sequence: while one GC underwent solvent delay and column reconditioning, the other delivered analyte-rich eluate to the MS. Chromatographic conditions followed EPA Method 1613 and related standards, using 60 m columns (0.25 mm ID, 0.25 µm film) and calibration mixes of CS1–CS5, EPA 1668/1614, and low-level blood matrix spikes (~20 fg/µL 2,3,7,8-TCDD).

Main results and discussion

The DualData XL configuration doubled sample throughput compared to a standard dual-GC run (32 vs. 16 samples over 12 hours) by eliminating 20–30 minutes of idle time per injection. Evaluation of PCDD/F, PCB, and PBDE standards showed no degradation in chromatographic resolution or peak shape despite additional flow-path volume. The critical separation of 2,3,7,8-TCDD from its nearest isomer consistently achieved >25% valley definition per EPA 1613. Sensitivity remained unchanged, with detection down to low-femtogram levels in complex matrices.

Benefits and practical applications

The DualData XL approach offers:

• Up to twofold increase in daily throughput for dioxin/furan analysis.
• Seamless switching between different POP applications (e.g., PCDD/Fs on one GC, PBDEs or PCBs on the other).
• Preservation of high-resolution performance and ruggedness of the magnetic sector MS.
• Modular integration into existing TRACE 1310 systems without major hardware overhaul.

Future trends and possibilities

Advances may include integration of additional GCs for multi-method workflows, adaptive scheduling software to optimize injection timing, and expanded microfluidic switching networks for three or four concurrent chromatographic paths. Coupling with automated data-processing pipelines and cloud-based scheduling could further streamline high-throughput environmental and food safety laboratories.

Conclusion

The DualData XL module for DFS magnetic sector GC-HRMS effectively doubles sample throughput for PCDD/F analysis without sacrifice to sensitivity or chromatographic integrity. Its flexible dual-GC design supports diverse POP methods, delivering robust, high-resolution performance in a high-throughput environment.

References

1. U.S. EPA Method 1613 Rev. B, October 1994.
2. European Committee for Standardization EN 1948, December 1996.
3. Thermo Fisher Scientific Application Note AN30098, Bremen 2006.