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Analysis of Polymer Additives and Impurities by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry and Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry

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Mass Spectrometry of Polymers – New Techniques

Part of the book series: Advances in Polymer Science ((POLYMER,volume 248))

Abstract

The analysis of polymeric materials can be quite challenging because such samples are often of complex nature due to the presence of various groups of additives, compounding ingredients, and fillers. Of special importance are stabilizers that protect the material from degradation by thermal stress during manufacture or from environmental impact during use. Apart from intact stabilizers, the degradation products of stabilizers should also be identified to understand the reactions occurring in a polymeric material. In all cases, the optimization of performance of a polymer as well as the reduction of production costs requires adequate analytical methods, whereby high-performance liquid chromatography plays a major role. As outlined in this review, mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure ionization has become state-of-the-art for identification of components in polymeric materials after separation by liquid chromatography. These ionization techniques include electrospray ionization, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, and atmospheric pressure photoionization. The latter technique shows various advantages such as low detection limits and applicability to a wide range of structurally different polymer additives. Besides chromatography, capillary electrophoresis has demonstrated some potential for separation of polymer stabilizers and for characterization of polymers, but its importance is still limited in comparison with liquid chromatography. As an alternative to the combination of chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, direct mass spectrometric techniques for solid polymer samples are emerging. These techniques provide new tools for quick screening procedures at the same time as avoiding tedious sample preparation.

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Abbreviations

APCI:

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

APPI:

Atmospheric pressure photoionization

ASAP:

Atmospheric solid analysis probe

CE:

Capillary electrophoresis

CZE:

Capillary zone electrophoresis

DART:

Direct analysis in real time

DESI:

Desorption electrospray ionization

EOF:

Electroosmotic flow

ESI:

Electrospray ionization

GC:

Gas chromatography

HALS:

Hindered amine light stabilizers

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

MALDI:

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

MEEKC:

Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

MEKC:

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography

MS:

Mass spectrometry

NP:

Normal phase

RP:

Reversed phase

SEC:

Size-exclusion chromatography

SFC:

Supercritical fluid chromatography

SIMS:

Secondary ion mass spectrometry

TOF:

Time-of-flight

UHPLC:

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded partly by the COMET K-Project APMT (project number 825344) and by the FFG SolPol Projects (project numbers 825444 and 827788).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Johannes-Kepler-University Linz, Altenbergerstrasse 69, 4040, Linz, Austria

    Wolfgang Buchberger & Martin Stiftinger

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  1. Wolfgang Buchberger
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  2. Martin Stiftinger
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Correspondence to Wolfgang Buchberger .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Fibre and Polymer Technolo, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Teknikringen 56-58, Stockholm, 10044, Sweden

    Minna Hakkarainen

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Buchberger, W., Stiftinger, M. (2011). Analysis of Polymer Additives and Impurities by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry and Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry. In: Hakkarainen, M. (eds) Mass Spectrometry of Polymers – New Techniques. Advances in Polymer Science, vol 248. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/12_2011_147

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