Hyphenation
Definition
Online coupling of a separation technique (GC, LC, ICP) with a spectrometric detector (MS, FTIR) so identification happens within the same run. Term coined by Tomas Hirschfeld in 1980.
- Coined by
- Tomas Hirschfeld, 1980
- Combines
- A separation technique with a spectrometric detector
- Common examples
- GC-MS, LC-MS, ICP-MS
- Benefit
- Separation and identification occur within a single run
Common questions
Why is hyphenation preferred over running separation and identification as two separate steps?+
Coupling the instruments online avoids losing or contaminating the separated fraction between steps, saves analysis time, and lets the detector confirm the identity of each peak as it elutes rather than relying on retention time alone.
What trade-off does hyphenation introduce compared to standalone instruments?+
The two techniques must operate compatibly, for instance a liquid chromatograph's flow must be adapted to the vacuum conditions a mass spectrometer needs, which adds interface hardware and can constrain the operating conditions each technique would otherwise use alone.
Related terms
- Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (APCI)
- A complementary atmospheric-pressure source that vaporises the LC eluent and uses a corona discharge to ionise a reagent gas, which transfers charge...
- Electrospray Ionisation (ESI)
- A soft atmospheric-pressure ionisation source that sprays the LC eluent through a charged capillary into a heated counter-current gas, producing protonated or...
- ICP Plasma
- Inductively coupled argon plasma at 6,000 to 10,000 K that atomises and ionises samples in ICP-MS, generating singly charged elemental ions for...
- Interface
- The hardware bridge that transfers analyte from the separation stage to the detector while removing the unwanted mobile phase (carrier gas, solvent,...
- Internal Standard / Deuterated Standard
- A chemically similar (often perdeuterated) compound spiked into the sample to correct for matrix effects and ionisation suppression. Standard practice in forensic...
- Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS)
- Specialised MS that measures precise ratios of light stable isotopes (delta values of 2H, 13C, 15N, 18O, 34S) on a continuous-flow combustion...
- Jet Separator
- Early GC-MS interface (Ryhage, 1964) that used differential pumping through a nozzle to enrich analyte and bleed helium. Replaced by direct capillary...