SPRAY JET ASSEMBLY INTERFACE FOR THE COUPLING OF REVERSED-PHASE NARROW-BORE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY AND FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROMETRY

Liquid chromatography was coupled to Fourier transform infrared spectrometry via solvent elimination prior to infrared detection. The method allows the immobilization of analytes separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Using a spray jet assembly, the effluent from a narrow-bore reversed-phase liquid chromatography column was continuously sprayed onto a linearly moving substrate suitable for infrared detection. The deposited compounds were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared microscopy. Transmission measurement using zinc selenide as substrate appears to be preferable to measurement in the reflection mode on an aluminum surface. With polycyclic hydrocarbons and quinones as model compounds, it was shown that the chromatographic separation is hardly affected during the immobilization process. The identification limits for these compounds were 10-20 ng. Aqueous methanol liquid chromatography eluents containing up to about 20% water can be handled.