Atom Probe

Q: How is LC-MS different from GC-MS?

LC-MS analyzes non-volatile and thermally sensitive compounds , while GC-MS is limited to volatile or semi-volatile substances.

What Is LC-MS?

LC-MS works in two stages:

Liquid Chromatography (LC) separates compounds in solution based on their chemical interactions with the column and mobile phase.
Mass Spectrometry (MS) detects and identifies each compound by its mass-to-charge ratio.

This combination allows LC-MS to analyze compounds that cannot be measured by GC-based techniques.

What LC-MS Measures

LC-MS can detect and identify:

Non-volatile and thermally unstable compounds
Polar and high-molecular-weight organics
Additives, surfactants, and stabilizers
Impurities and degradation products
Active ingredients and intermediates
Trace organic components in complex matrices

Quantitative analysis is available when suitable reference standards are used.

Why Use LC-MS?

LC-MS is chosen when conventional techniques are insufficient. It helps answer questions such as:

What is the identity of an unknown non-volatile compound?
Are trace impurities present that affect performance?
What degradation products form during aging or processing?
Do two formulations differ at the molecular level?
Are additives or surfactants present as expected?

LC-MS is especially valuable for unknown identification and non-target screening of complex samples.

Typical Application Scenarios

Unknown Identification & Impurity Analysis

Identification of unknown peaks detected by HPLC
Trace impurity and contaminant investigation
Root-cause analysis of performance changes

Deformulation & Reverse Engineering

Identification of formulation components
Competitive product comparison
Support for formulation optimization

Polymers, Coatings & Adhesives

Analysis of additives and low-molecular components
Detection of chemical degradation
Comparison of “good vs. failed” samples

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Products

Active ingredient and impurity profiling
Stability and compatibility studies
Regulatory and quality support

Failure Analysis & Troubleshooting

Investigation of unexpected chemical changes
Identification of leachables or extractables
Correlation of chemistry with failure mechanisms

Sample Types

LC-MS can be applied to:

liquids and solutions
solids after appropriate extraction
polymers, resins, and coatings
adhesives, sealants, and consumer products

Sample preparation may include solvent extraction, filtration, dilution, or concentration, depending on the analytical objective.

What You Will Receive

Each LC-MS project is delivered with a clear, structured report designed for technical and business decisions. A typical deliverable includes:

project objective and sample description
sample preparation and LC-MS conditions
chromatograms and mass spectra
compound identification with confidence assessment
qualitative and/or quantitative results
comparison summaries (batch vs. batch, supplier vs. supplier)
interpretation of findings and their impact
recommendations for follow-up analysis or corrective action

Why Choose Xinbodi for LC-MS?

Strong expertise in non-volatile and complex organic analysis
High sensitivity and confident unknown identification
Flexible method development tailored to your materials
Clear interpretation beyond raw spectra
Support for R&D, QC, deformulation, and failure investigations
Strict confidentiality for proprietary formulations and data