Off-line combination of liquid chromatography and field desorption mass spectrometry: principles and environmental, medical and pharmaceutical applications.

Field desorption mass spectrometry (FD-MS), which is applicable to analyses of compounds of low volatility and thermal instability, is used as a sensitive, specific and fast detection method for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Owing to its simplicity and efficiency, off-line combination is the preferred technique for the analysis of substances in chromatographic effuents. The principles of identification, purity control and quantification are presented. Characteristic examples of mental, medical and pharmaceutical areas are given. Qualitative and quantitative results for drugs and endogenous compounds, e.g., tranquillizers, immunosuppressive and antitumour agents and free amino acids, in human body fluids, biocides, e.g., phenylureas, carbamates, organophosphorus and organometallic compounds, in river water, and natural and synthetic products, e.g., saponins, chlorophyll and deoxyribonucleotides, are presented.