GC/Q-TOF
What Is GC/Q-TOF?
GC/Q-TOF integrates:
Gas Chromatography (GC) for compound separation
Quadrupole Time-of-Flight MS for high-resolution mass analysis
Unlike conventional quadrupole GC-MS, Q-TOF detectors provide:
exact mass measurement
high mass resolution
accurate elemental composition determination
This makes GC/Q-TOF especially powerful for identifying unknown or unexpected compounds.
What GC/Q-TOF Measures
GC/Q-TOF can detect and characterize:
Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds
Trace-level impurities
Unknown contaminants
Complex additive and degradation products
Isomers and closely related compounds
Low-concentration components masked in GC-MS
Accurate mass data allows determination of molecular formulas, increasing confidence in identification.
Why Use GC/Q-TOF?
GC/Q-TOF is chosen when standard GC or GC-MS is not enough. It helps answer questions such as:
What is this unknown compound with high confidence?
Are there trace impurities not resolved by GC-MS?
Are multiple compounds co-eluting?
What is the exact molecular formula of an unknown?
Is a contaminant coming from a specific raw material or process?
GC/Q-TOF is ideal for non-target screening and forensic-level analysis.
Typical Application Scenarios
Advanced Unknown Identification
Identification of unknown peaks with accurate mass confirmation
Forensic-level contamination investigations
Root-cause analysis of unexpected chemical species
Impurity & Trace Analysis
Detection of ultra-low-level impurities
Comparison of high-purity materials
Supplier qualification for critical applications
Deformulation & Reverse Engineering
Detailed profiling of low-molecular-weight formulation components
Differentiation of similar products or competitors
Identification of proprietary additives or stabilizers
Failure Analysis & Troubleshooting
Investigation of odor, outgassing, or degradation
Identification of process-related contaminants
Comparison of “good vs. failed” samples
R&D & Product Development
Screening of by-products and degradation pathways
Support for formulation optimization
Regulatory or risk-related investigations
Sample Types
GC/Q-TOF can be applied to:
polymers, plastics, and rubbers
coatings, adhesives, and sealants
chemicals and specialty materials
consumer and industrial products
Sample preparation methods may include:
headspace analysis
solvent extraction
thermal desorption
derivatization (when needed)
Xinbodi selects preparation and acquisition strategies based on analytical objectives.
What You Will Receive
Each GC/Q-TOF project is delivered with a high-confidence, structured report suitable for technical and decision-making use. A typical deliverable includes:
project objective and sample description
sample preparation and GC/Q-TOF conditions
chromatograms with high-resolution mass data
accurate-mass spectra and molecular formula assignments
compound identification with confidence levels
comparison between samples or conditions
interpretation of findings and potential sources
recommendations for mitigation, optimization, or follow-up analysis
Why Choose Xinbodi for GC/Q-TOF?
Advanced high-resolution mass spectrometry capability
Strong expertise in unknown and trace-level analysis
Accurate-mass interpretation and expert data evaluation
Flexible strategies for complex material systems
Clear conclusions beyond raw spectral data
Strict confidentiality for proprietary formulations and IP-sensitive projects
FAQs
How is GC/Q-TOF different from GC-MS?
GC-MS provides nominal mass identification. GC/Q-TOF provides accurate mass and higher resolution, enabling more confident identification of unknowns and trace compounds.
Do I always need GC/Q-TOF instead of GC-MS?
Not always. GC/Q-TOF is recommended when unknowns are complex, trace-level, or ambiguous using conventional GC-MS.
Is GC/Q-TOF destructive?
Yes. GC/Q-TOF analysis is destructive to the tested portion, but only small sample amounts are required.
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