Difference Between HPLC and LCMS

Key Difference – HPLC vs LCMS

Let us first look at the meaning of HPLC and LCMS before analyzing the difference between HPLC and LCMS.Chromatographyis a separation technique in chemical analysis where sample constituents are separated during passage through a chromatographic medium. It also involves interaction with the sample, stationary phase, and mobile phase. HPLC stands forHigh Performance Liquid Chromatography,and it is used as a liquid chromatography method in analytical chemistry. The combination ofLiquid Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy (LCMS)has been developed for thequantitative analysisof selected biomolecules and it isa highly sensitive, accurate, and specificassayprocedure compared to HPLC. This is thekey difference between HPLC and LCMC. This article will introduce you to HPLC and LCMC that deal with chemical analysis and discuss the differences between HPLC and LCMS.

What is HPLC?

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a popularseparation technique in analytical chemistry. It is mainlyused to separate the components, to identify and to quantify each component in amixture. Earlier, this method was known ashigh-pressure liquid chromatography因为它取决于泵加压流liquid solvent comprising the sample mixture through a column packed with a solid adsorbent material. Each and every constituent in the sample mixture interacts differently with the solid adsorbent material, which results in different flow rates for different constituents. This can lead to the separation of the constituents as they flow out the HPLC column.

HPLC has been used for variousapplicationssuch asanalysis ofvitamin Dlevels in blood,illegal drug usage of athletesby detecting the drug residues in their urine,sorting out the constituents of a complex biological sample分析和研究目的manufacturing of pharmaceuticals.

What is LCMS?

Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LCMS) is an analytical technique that combines the physical separation abilities of liquid chromatography with the mass analysis abilities of massspectrometry(MS). Liquid chromatography is a separation technique, and mass spectrometry is used to analyze the mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles. The physical separation is usually achieved by HPLC and alternatively, LCMS also known asHPLC-MS. LCMS is adominant analytical techniquethat has avery high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificitycompared to HPLC. Thus, it is useful in many applications such as research purposes, drug analysis, food analysis, etc. LCMS is mainlyused to separate, to detect, identify and quantifybiochemicalpropertiesof a particular sample in the presence of complex chemical mixtures.

What is the difference betweenHPLC and LCMC?

Acronym and definition of HPLC and LCMC

HPLC:HPLC stands for High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. It is a separation technique that is mainly used to separate the components, to identify and to quantify each component in a mixture.

LCMS:LCMS stands forLiquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. It is an analytical technique that combines the physical separation abilities of liquid chromatography with the mass analysis abilities of mass spectrometry (MS).

Characteristics ofHPLC and LCMC

Classification

HPLC:这是一个我iquid Chromatography method only.

LCMS:This is a combination of Liquid Chromatography method and Mass Spectrometry method.

Efficiency

HPLC:Compared to LCMS, the HPLC analysis is less efficient and slower.

LCMS:Compared to HPLC, the LCMS analysis is efficient and faster.

Sensitivity

HPLC:Compared to LCMS, the HPLC analysis is less sensitive.

LCMS:Compared to HPLC, the LCMS analysis is more sensitive.

Specificity

HPLC:Compared to LCMS, the HPLC analysis is less specific.

LCMS:Compared to HPLC, the LCMS analysis is more specific.

Accuracy

HPLC:HPLC gives less accurate results than LCMS for determination of some chemicals.

LCMS:LCMS gives more accurate results than HPLC for determination of some chemicals.

Component

HPLC:HPLC can be considered as a component of LCMS.

LCMS:LCMS cannot be considered as a component of HPLC.

Ion Source

HPLC:Ion source does not exist in HPLC instrument.

LCMS:Ion source is present in LCMS instrument.

Applications

HPLC:Ions,polymers, organic molecules, and biomolecules can be analyzed using HPLC.

LCMS:Organic molecules and biomolecules can be analyzed. Contrasting to HPLC, LCMS can be used to examine incompletely resolved mixtures.

Operation

HPLC:The diagram of an HPLC instrument is given in figure 1, and it usually includes an autosampler, pumps, and a detector. The sampler introduces the sample mixture into the mobile phase (pressurized mixture of solvents such as water, acetonitrile and/ormethanol) which transfers it to the column. The pumps deliver the desired flow and composition of the mobile phase through the column. The column is filled with theadsorbent, which is a grainy solid particle such assilicaor polymers. The detector produces a signal proportionate to the amount of sample constituent presence in the column, therefore permitting for quantifiable analysis of the selected sample constituents. The HPLC instrument is controlled, and data analysis is provided by a digital microprocessor and user software.

Figure 1:Diagram of HPLC instrument

LCMS:The diagram of LCMS instrument is given in figure 2. The sample extract is inserted into the column consisting of HPLC. This column retains sample metabolites based on physical characters, and differentmetabolitesflow to the mass spectrometer at different time intervals. Mass spectroscopy is used for assessing masses of particles, for determining the elemental arrangement of a molecule, and for clarifying the molecule structures. However, the sample should be ionized to generate charged molecules in order to determine their mass-to-charge ratios. Therefore, instead of HPLC instruments, LCMS consist additional three modules such as iron source, a mass analyzer, and a detector. An ion source can transform gas phase sample into ions and a mass analyzer grouping the ions by their masses using electromagnetic fields. Finally, a detector quantifies the values and delivers data of each ion present in the sample. The LCMS technique can be used for both qualitative and quantitative applications.

Figure 2:Diagram of LCMS instrument

In conclusion, HPLC is a liquid chromatography method whereas LCMS is a combination of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Both these analysis techniques have different characteristics, but they can be used to identify and quantify food compositions, pharmaceuticals, and other bioactive molecules.

References

Arpino, P. (1992). Combined liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Part III. Applications of thermospray.Mass Spectrometry Reviews,11: 3.

嘉宝,F。,Krummen, M, Potgeter, H,罗斯。Siffrin, C. and Spoendlin, C. (2004). Practical aspects of fast reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using 3μm particle packed columns and monolithic columns in pharmaceutical development and production working under current good manufacturing practice.Journal of Chromatography,1036(2): 127–133.

Lee, M. S. and Kerns, E. H. (1999). LC/MS applications in drug development.Mass Spectrometry Reviews,18(3–4): 187–279.

Murray, K. K. (1997). Coupling matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization to liquid separations.Mass Spectrometry Reviews16(5): 283.

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