When technical documentation is not sufficient to confirm compliance with regulations like the EU REACH or RoHS, analytical testing is imperative. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) is an advanced technique widely used in such areas as electronics, environmental analyses, and petrochemical applications, hence a highly reliable solution. It combines gas chromatography with mass spectrometry into a powerful and versatile test method. The following overview will show you how GC-MS and application-specific GC-MS systems can support your environmental compliance process.
Contact Enviropass to request GC-MS testing. Verify what regulated substances may be present in your products!
This approach now combines both techniques, and it is widely applied in environmental; electronics; and petrochemical gas chromatography-mass spectrometry owing to its precision and sensitivity. During GC-MS, the sample is analyzed first by gas chromatography and then assessed by mass spectrometry.
The first step of a GC analysis involves the conversion of the sample to the gas phase. Since electronics are solid products, they need to be dissolved using an organic solvent such as Dichloromethane (DCM), Isooctane or Hexane etc. Significantly, the solvent should be compatible with the analyte; incompatibility could happen if the analyte is insoluble or if there are chemical reactions producing new compounds.
After the dissolution, the sample is injected into the gas chromatograph and vaporized.
This step is often referred to by technicians when reading gas chromatography outputs during analysis.
This is followed by the mobile phase, which is an inert gas that pushes the sample through the column (the stationary phase). As the sample travels through the system, compounds separate based on their interactions with the stationary phase. In this way, the instrument can determine elution times and identify substances.
However, since many compounds can have close elution times, most laboratories rely on GC-MS test methodologies rather than gas chromatography in itself.
After separation, the gas flows into the mass spectrometer, where the compounds are ionized, accelerated into a magnetic field, and deflected into characteristic patterns that indicate their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z).
This process has a wide application in:
Application-specific GC-MS systems require high analytical accuracy.
The m/z denotes the atomic mass divided by the formal charge of the compound. Because the charge is generally +1, the m/z often reflects the mass of the molecule.
For example, toluene has an atomic mass and m/z of 92.
Below is a mass spectrum for toluene:
On the x-axis, you can see the m/z, which is used to characterize the substance (qualitative analysis). On the y-axis, you can see the relative abundance, which is used to calculate the concentration of each compound present in the sample (quantitative analysis). Learn more about interpreting mass spectra.
Matrix interference arises with substances within a sample that interfere with the detection of analytes. In electronics, peak identification is complicated with complex material structures enhancing background noise.
It affects all forms of GC-MS, such as environmental gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry and petrochemical GC-MS systems.
Many regulations involve detection at very low concentrations, such as RoHS and REACH.
To attain such sensitivity, most laboratories use GC-MS, a more advanced variant that analyzes ions twice for higher specificity. At Enviropass, application specific GC-MS systems are in place, ensuring reliable and exact test results.
Portable GC-MS units are increasingly used in environmental investigations, industrial hygiene, and forensic science. They allow field analysis where samples might degrade quickly. However, because of size and power considerations, portable devices cannot provide full laboratory GC-MS test platform functionality. Even so, their practicality makes them indispensable for on-site operations, including forensic gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry.
Even though GC-MS is powerful, it is not the best applicable for non-volatile substances like heavy metals, meanwhile techniques like XRF are more appropriate.
However, GC-MS remains extremely potent in the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). GC-MS is used for:
These use cases are common in electronics, gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry and application-specific GC-MS systems designed for compliance testing.
Furthermore, GC-MS is extremely helpful in root cause analysis in cases of unknown contaminants that impact electronic device performance.
Phthalates are widely used plasticizers which make polymers soft, flexible, and durable. They can be found in countless everyday products, ranging from cables and connectors to toys, coatings, jewellery, and consumer electronics. However, several phthalates, such as DBP, BBP, DEHP, and DIBP, are strictly regulated due to their potential health effects under various frameworks, including EU RoHS, REACH Annexe XVII, California Proposition 65, and CPSIA.
Suppliers may claim that their materials are “phthalate-free,” but manufacturers can only provide proof through testing for audits, enforcement checks, and assessments by large retailers.
The manufacturers, besides being compliant, also use analytical tests to safeguard consumers. One of the important, sensitive and accurate approaches for testing involves Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry. Method IEC 62321-8:2017 gives one a strong procedure for the identification and quantification of phthalates in solid polymeric materials.
A small portion of the extract is injected into the GC, using splitless mode to provide maximum sensitivity. Individual phthalates are separated on a low-bleed capillary column according to their boiling point and interactions with the stationary phase.
The electron ionization method is utilized in the mass spectrometer for fragmenting the analytes. Characteristic ions, such as m/z 149 from DBP, DIBP, and DEHP, are monitored in the Selected Ion Monitoring mode to ensure high selectivity without interference from the polymer matrix.
A calibration curve, which usually encompasses a 0.01 to 20 mg/L range, enables accurate quantification. Results are expressed in mg/kg (ppm) of the original polymer.
Specifically, in order to ensure scientifically defensible results, the GC-MS procedure includes:
These actions ensure the method remains reliable, traceable, and repeatable—key requirements for ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories.
Brominated flame retardants like PBBs and PBDEs were once in heavily used in plastics to improve fire resistance. For decades, these chemicals were in electronic housings, circuit boards, connectors, and a plethora of consumer goods. However, mounting evidence on their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxic effects has led to stringent global restrictions. These include limits on PBBs and PBDEs to 0.1% (1000 mg/kg) in electrical and electronic equipment under the EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU and 2015/863). Similar restrictions apply under REACH Annex XVII, WEEE Directive, China RoHS, Japan and Korea RoHS equivalents, California Prop 65 for some PBDEs, and various global eco-label and retailer programs.
Today, manufacturers, importers, and recyclers count on Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Method IEC 62321-6:2015 to detect and quantify these compounds in polymeric materials. Analytical testing is not only indispensable for legal compliance but also for product and brand protection and consumer safety.
These include two benzene rings connected to each other with different levels of bromination. Their primary application was in plastics to equip electric facilities.
While structurally similar to PBBs, the PBDEs contain an oxygen atom between aromatic rings. They were popular flame retardants in polymers, textiles and foams.
While both groups were appreciated for their thermal stability, the environmental and human health impacts of these substances—such as endocrine disruption, developmental toxicity, and ecological persistence—resulted in wide-scale bans.
GC-MS is one of the most robust techniques in identifying brominated flame retardants, on account of its capability to separate complex mixtures and detect compounds based on their unique mass spectral fingerprints.
The extract is injected into a capillary GC column. Compounds are separated as the oven temperature increases, with lighter PBDEs eluting first, while heavier ones like BDE-209 require high-temperature operation above 300°C.
The MS detects PBDEs and PBBs by their characteristic bromine isotope pattern (m/z 79 and 81). This technique, under selected ion monitoring conditions in GC-MS, demonstrates very good sensitivity and selectivity, even within complex polymer matrices.
When technical documentation is not available or insufficient, GC-MS is a powerful product testing solution to identify regulated substances and ensure compliance. The versatility-from environment gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry to electronics and petrochemical GC-MS applications-makes the technique one of the most versatile among those available within analytical chemistry.
It is the mission of Enviropass to deliver, at all times, the best value-added and quality environmental compliance services to manufacturers worldwide. We apply internationally recognized standards of IEC 62321, ISO 17025 principles, RoHS guidance etc., and up-to-date scientific methods to generate results that are accurate, defensible, and audit-ready.
We help companies manage complex regulations such as RoHS, REACH, PFAS, POPs, Proposition 65, and global chemical restrictions by providing expert testing, auditing, training, and customized solutions.
A GC-MS technique can be used to identify volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs/SVOCs) in various products and substances.
It has several applications including:
– Environmental Compliance Testing
– Chemical substance identification
– Contaminant screening
– Regulatory compliance (RoHS, REACH, POPs, TSCA)
It is capable of detecting:
Yes. GC-MS is universally accepted and cited in:
Yes. One of the best methods for non-target screening is GC-MS. It is especially useful for:
Yes. GC-MS is employed in electronics for:
Whether you have general questions about GC-MS, application-specific GC-MS systems, or would like to request a GC-MS test for your materials, feel free to contact Enviropass for a free Enviropass consultation!
