Analysis of phenols in water at the ppb level using direct supercritical fluid extraction of aqueous samples combined on-line with supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A high pressure multivalve switching system has provided a means of interfacing a direct aqueous SFE vessel to a packed column SFC-MS system. Using full scan negative ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, the combined SFE–SFC–MS instrumentation enabled the analysis of phenols in water at the 40 ppb level.