Identification of impurity peaks in the HPLC chromatogram by LC-MS and two-dimensional chromatographic correlation spectroscopy

A novel qualitative analytical method by using two-dimensional chromatographic correlation spectroscopy techniques for recognizing impurity peaks of HPLC methods of quality control and LC-MS chromatographic system was established.  The structures of major degradation products of ceftizoxime and cefdinir were identified by LC-MS and MassWorks application; the standard chromatographic and spectral data of the degradation impurities were obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection.  The impurity peaks of two-dimensional chromatography were matched by comparison of spectra and calculating correlation coefficients.  Peaks in chromatography can be identified accurately and rapidly in different chromatographic systems such as column and mobile phase changed.  The method provides a new way and thought to identify the peaks in quality control of impurities without reference impurity substances.