CPC H01J 49/004 (2013.01) [G16B 35/10 (2019.02)] | 26 Claims |
1. A method for the analysis of compounds of interest through separation over time when using a mass spectral detection system and making a determination of retention index values, comprising the steps of
a. acquiring, at a plurality of times, mass spectral data throughout a range of mass to charge ratio for ionized particles of a sample;
b. selecting a relevant retention time window for presence of possible compounds of interest;
c. using the acquired mass spectral data in said relevant retention time window to perform a mass spectral library search for compounds in a mass spectral library and identify possible compounds along with their retention index values;
d. performing a regression analysis, using a regression model, between the retention index values of said possible compounds and their retention times by using a subset of compounds identified;
e. using said regression model to calculate a retention index value based on the measured retention time for a compound; and
f. using said calculated retention index value for one of comparing to previously measured retention index value of a known candidate compound to evaluate the likelihood of its correct identification and comparing to predicted retention index value of a previously unknown compound to evaluate the likelihood of a given possible structure.
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