Stereoselective Separation Combined with Mass Spectrometry: An Indispensable Tool for the Quantification and Identification of Toxins in the Ultra Trace Range

A short survey is given over the main fields of interest of the recently established research group for organic analytical chemistry at the University of Basel. Organic trace analysis and structure elucidation in the pg to ng range are carried out using high resolution gas and chromatography liquid chromatography coupled to single and multiple mass spectrometry. Important ionisation techniques are electrospray, atmospheric chemical ionisation and negative ion chemical ionisation. Beside the development of isomer and enantiomer selective HRGC capillaries and techniques, the techniques mentioned above are applied to problems in the field of environmental analytical chemistry such as the determination and structure elucidation of mycotoxins and pesticides as well as atmospheric polar pollutants. Further fields are the identification of alkaloids in plant extracts and synthetic perfume compounds in detergents