General Troubleshooting 2
Troubleshooting and Maintenance Manual 47
Table 2    Common contaminants 
Ions (m/z) Compound Possible source
18, 28, 32, 44 or 14, 16 H
2
O, N
2
, O
2
, CO
2 
or N, O Residual air and water, air 
leaks, outgassing from Vespel 
ferrules
31, 51, 69, 100, 119, 131,
169, 181, 214, 219, 264, 376, 
414, 426, 464, 502, 576, 614
PFTBA and related ions PFTBA (tuning compound) 
31 Methanol Cleaning solvent
43, 58 Acetone Cleaning solvent
78 Benzene Cleaning solvent
91, 92  Toluene or xylene Cleaning solvent
105, 106 Xylene  Cleaning solvent
151, 153 Trichloroethane Cleaning solvent
69 Foreline pump oil or PFTBA Foreline pump oil vapor or 
calibration valve leak
73, 147, 207, 221, 281, 295, 355, 
429
Dimethylpolysiloxane Septum bleed or methyl 
silicone column bleed
149 Plasticizer (phthalates) Vacuum seals (O-rings)
damaged by high 
temperatures, vinyl gloves
Peaks spaced 14 m/z apart Hydrocarbons Fingerprints, foreline pump oil
50, 69, 76, 100, 119, 126, 171, 
221, 271, 366, 416, 435
PFET and related ions PFET (IRM calibrant)