Distinguishing by principal component analysis of o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene and ethylbenzene using electron ionization mass spectrometry.

The possibility of distinguishing between o-, m-, p-xylene and ethylbenzene on the basis of only their 70 eV electron ionization (EI) mass spectra has been investigated. These four isomers were distinguished by principal component analysis (PCA) of respective EI mass spectra (recorded under identical conditions). Considered mass spectra contained either eleven or five m/z values, which had intensity greater than 5% or 10% of base peak, respectively.