Detectors mass-spectroscopic

Time-of-flight mass spectrometers have been used as detectors in a wider variety of experiments tlian any other mass spectrometer. This is especially true of spectroscopic applications, many of which are discussed in this encyclopedia. Unlike the other instruments described in this chapter, the TOP mass spectrometer is usually used for one purpose, to acquire the mass spectrum of a compound. They caimot generally be used for the kinds of ion-molecule chemistry discussed in this chapter, or structural characterization experiments such as collision-induced dissociation. Plowever, they are easily used as detectors for spectroscopic applications such as multi-photoionization (for the spectroscopy of molecular excited states) [38], zero kinetic energy electron spectroscopy [39] (ZEKE, for the precise measurement of ionization energies) and comcidence measurements (such as photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy [40] for the measurement of ion fragmentation breakdown diagrams). 

The use of mass spectroscopic analyses for characterization of anthocyanins has increased dramatically over the past decade. Most reports cite the use of HPLC coupled to MS detectors or isolating individual pigments prior to the mass spectroscopic analysis. - - " ... 

Perhaps the most revolutionary development has been the application of on-line mass spectroscopic detection for compositional analysis. Polymer composition can be inferred from column retention time or from viscometric and other indirect detection methods, but mass spectroscopy has reduced much of the ambiguity associated with that process. Quantitation of end groups and of co-polymer composition can now be accomplished directly through mass spectroscopy. Mass spectroscopy is particularly well suited as an on-line GPC technique, since common GPC solvents interfere with other on-line detectors, including UV-VIS absorbance, nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopic detectors. By contrast, common GPC solvents are readily adaptable to mass spectroscopic interfaces. No detection technique offers a combination of universality of analyte detection, specificity of information, and ease of use comparable to that of mass spectroscopy. 

In order to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of the column effluent, a detector is required. Since the column effluent is often very low mass (ng) and is moving at high velocity (50-100 cm/s for capillary columns), the detector must be highly sensitive and have a fast response time. In the development of GC, these requirements meant that detectors were custom-built they are not generally used in other analytical instruments, except for spectroscopic detectors such as mass and infrared spectrometry. The most common detectors are flame ionization, which is sensitive to carbon-containing compounds and thermal conductivity which is universal. Among spectroscopic detectors, mass spectrometry is by far the most common. 

Optical examination of etched polished surfaces or small particles can often identify compounds or different minerals hy shape, color, optical properties, and the response to various etching attempts. A semi-quantitative elemental analysis can he used for elements with atomic number greater than four by SEM equipped with X-ray fluorescence and various electron detectors. The electron probe microanalyzer and Auer microprobe also provide elemental analysis of small areas. The secondary ion mass spectroscope, laser microprobe mass analyzer, and Raman microprobe analyzer can identify elements, compounds, and molecules. Electron diffraction patterns can be obtained with the TEM to determine which crystalline compounds are present. Ferrography is used for the identification of wear particles in lubricating oils. 

The first application of LC-NMR-MS to natural products analysis was presented in 1999 [37]. The additional mass spectroscopic information allowed the identification of a further ecdysteroid in an extract of Silene otides which could not be identified by LC-NMR alone [24], Further applications of this double hyphenation dealt with the identification of napthodianthrones [38] and flavone glycosides [38,39] in natural products extracts. Taking the hyphenated technique one step further, the suitability of an integrated LC-UV-IR-NMR-MS system for natural products analysis has been assessed [40] - again using ecdysteroids as an example. Such systems still suffer from different requirements of the individual detectors (mainly in terms of sensitivity). However, the results obtained are promising. 

The ultimate selectivity of gas chromatography is determined by the detector. The most selective detectors are spectroscopic, such as Fourier-Transform Infrared or Mass Spectrometer. Automated systems can employ chemometric algorithms to discriminate unresolved chromatographic peaks. These combinations are expensive and require significant computer support. As such, they are more likely to be used in a laboratory for confirmation. Efforts to convert this approach to field units are still under development. The MiniCAMS described above, based on a FPD is a reliable monitor but requires 3-5 min to make a determination. Gas chromatographs also require a source of purified gas for operation and the flame detector requires additional hydrogen and air for operation. This device will have the fewest false positives and the most... 

However, three-way data can also be formed with two object ways and one variable way and by one sample with three variable ways. Environmental data where several distinct locations are monitored at discrete time intervals for multiple analytes exemplifies three-way data with two object ways and one variable way. Excitation-emission-time decay fluorescence or gas chromatography with a tandem mass spectroscopic detector are instrumental methods that form three-way data with three variable ways. These data types are employed mostly for qualitative application. Herein, the desire of the analyst to elicit underlying factors that influence the ecosystem or to deconvolve highly overlapped spectral profiles to deduce the number, identity, or relaxation coefficients of constituents in a complex sample can be realized. The same procedures employed for quantitation lend themselves to the extraction of qualitative information. 

The most widely used method for quantifying FFAs is gas chromatography (GC), which has attained widespread favor due to its versatility, high sensitivity and relatively low cost. GC complexed with a flame ionization detector is used routinely to quantify FFAs, either directly or derivatized as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). GC with mass spectroscopic detection has become the favored technique for quantification of volatile compounds derived from lipids (esters, lactones, ketones, alcohols and acids). 

Mass spectroscopic analysis of proteins and peptide fragments has become an often-utilized technique over the past few years, and a number of microdevices have been reported for use with this analysis method. Though not yet used routinely in clinical analyses, detecting expression patterns and specific mutations in proteins may well be the best way to detect diseases and propose treatments specific for a given mutation. Transfer of this type of analysis to the clinical laboratory may await the development of microdevices for the sample preparation steps, which can interface directly with MS detectors. 

We used a typical GC setup and a mass spectroscopic detector. The only modification involves controlling column pressure between 20 - 1000 kPa. The following table lists the main features of the experimental system used. All previous attempts to use the GC technique for binary measurements were conducted at constant (atmospheric) pressure. The pure component isotherms are obtained form a conventional volumetric technique. 

Selective, sensitive techniques based on gas chromatography or atomic absorption have been developed. The trifluoroacetylacetonate derivative of beryllium may be extracted from aqueous solutions into benzene and the beryllium determined by gas chromatography (9). Under optimum conditions 4 X 10 13 g can be detected with an electron capture detector (JO). With a mass spectroscopic detector the detectible quantity is 2.5 X 10 n g, but the specificity of the method is greatly improved (II). Flame atomic absorption has been used to determine beryllium in many materials (12). The technique can be used to measure levels down to 0.02 fig Be/ml in aqueous solutions. However, some interferences may be encountered even with the nitrous oxide-acetylene... 

Probably the simplest mass spectrometer is the time-of-fiight (TOP) instrument [36]. Aside from magnetic deflection instruments, these were among the first mass spectrometers developed. The mass range is theoretically infinite, though in practice there are upper limits that are governed by electronics and ion source considerations. In chemical physics and physical chemistry, TOP instniments often are operated at lower resolving power than analytical instniments. Because of their simplicity, they have been used in many spectroscopic apparatus as detectors for electrons and ions. Many of these teclmiques are included as chapters unto themselves in this book, and they will only be briefly described here. 

Detection in SFC can be achieved in the condensed phase using optical detectors similar to those used in liquid chromatography or in the gas phase using detectors similar to those used in gas chromatography. Spectroscopic detectors, such as mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, are relatively easily interfaced to SFC compared to the problems observed with liquid mobile phases (see Chapter 9). The range of available detectors for SFC is considered one of its strengths. 

Specifications for modem detectors in HPLC are given by Hanai [538] and comprise spectroscopic detectors (UV, F, FUR, Raman, RID, ICP, AAS, AES), electrochemical detectors (polarography, coulometry, (pulsed) amperometry, conductivity), mass spectromet-ric and other devices (FID, ECD, ELSD, ESR, NMR). None of these detectors meets all the requirement criteria of Table 4.40. The four most commonly used HPLC detectors are UV (80%), electrochemical, fluorescence and refractive index detectors. As these detectors are several orders of magnitude less sensitive than their GC counterparts, sensor contamination is not so severe, and... 

Many IC techniques are now available using single column or dual-column systems with various detection modes. Detection methods in IC are subdivided as follows [838] (i) electrochemical (conductometry, amper-ometry or potentiometry) (ii) spectroscopic (tJV/VIS, RI, AAS, AES, ICP) (iii) mass spectrometric and (iv) postcolumn reaction detection (AFS, CL). The mainstay of routine IC is still the nonspecific conductometric detector. A significant disadvantage of suppressed conductivity detection is the fact that weak to very weak acid anions (e.g. silicate, cyanide) yield poor sensitivity. IC combined with potentiometric detection techniques using ISEs allows quantification of selected analytes even in complex matrices. The main drawback... 

As with all spectroscopic methods discussed previously, this method is best suited to measurement and elucidation of the characteristics of pure compounds. For this reason, MS is often used as a detector for gas chromatographs. The GC separates the mixture into pure compounds and the MS then analyzes each pure chemical as it exits the column. The most common MS for this application is the quadrupole mass spectrometer. For this reason, it is discussed in Chapters 14 and 15. 

GC analyses of the pupal secretion of E. borealis have indicated the presence of vitamin E acetate and other tocopherol derivatives [49,50]. However, in tests with ants, these compounds proved to be essentially inactive, whereas the secretion itself was potently deterrent. To find and identify the active components in the pupal Epilachna borealis secretion, NMR spectroscopic studies on the fresh secretion were carried out. One and two-dimensional NMR experiments revealed that the tocopheryl acetates account for only a relatively small percentage of the beetles5 total secretion (20%), whereas the major components represented a group of previously undetected compounds. By analysis of the COSY, HSQC and HMBC spectra of the mixture, these components were shown to be esters and amides derived from three (co-l)-(2-hydroxyethylamino)alka-noic acids 44-46. HPLC analyses coupled to a mass spectrometric detector revealed that the secretion contain a highly diverse mixture of macrocyclic polyamines, the polyazamacrolides (PAMLs) 47-52 (Fig. 8). 

There are two basic approaches used to characterize seawater DOM (Benner, 2002). The first of these is to directly analyze bulk compositions (e.g., elemental or isotopic compositions) or individual compounds in the sample without concentration. This approach requires high-sensitivity methods for either broad biochemical types (e.g., total amino acids or carbohydrates) or individual compounds, often by either spectroscopic or chromatographic methods coupled to electrochemical or mass spectro-metric detectors. The latter type of molecular-level analyses are now feasible for measuring individual amino acids (Lindroth and Mopper, 1979), sugars (Skoog et al., 1999), and amino sugars (Kaiser and Benner,... 

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