Ionisation spectrometry

Orea JM, Montero C, Jimenez JB, Gonz ez Urena A. 2001. Analysis of /rarrs-resveratrolby laser desorption coupled with resonant ionisation spectrometry application to frani-resveratrol content in vine leaves and grape skin . Anal. Chem. 73(24) 5921 5929. 

In non-laser desorption/laser ionisation techniques selective laser ionisation of gas phase neutrals (atoms and molecules), generated by evaporation, thermal heating, particle or photon bombardment, can be applied. Regarding ionisation, it is possible to differentiate between thermal impact with other particles (LEIS laser-enhanced ionisation), ionisation due to an electric field (FILS field ionisation laser spectrometry) and that due to photoionisation (RIS resonance ionisation spectrometry). This type of ionisation can be combined with a mass spectrometer to detect isotopes selectively (RIMS resonance ionisation mass spectrometry). If a polymer additive is volatile enough its presence can be ascertained via ionisation-only spectra. That is, the additive evaporates from the near-surface region for a certain amount of time, and the ionisation laser alone will yield a reasonable amount of signal to obtain an analysis of the additive present. 

Major techniques of post-ionisation of secondary neutrals are resonance ionisation spectrometry (RIS) [224] in conjunction with MS (RIMS) [225], sputter initiated resonance ionisation spectroscopy (SIRIS),... 

Beckey, H.D., Principles of Field Ionisation and Field Desorption Mass Spectrometry, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1977. 

A. G. Harrison, Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometry, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., 1983. 

Tandem mass spectrometry or ms/ms was first introduced in the 1970s and gained rapid acceptance in the analytical community. The technique has been used for stmcture elucidation of unknowns (26) and has the abiUty to provide sensitive and selective analysis of complex mixtures with minimal sample clean-up (27). Developments in the mid-1980s advancing the popularity of ms/ms included the availabiUty of powerhil data systems capable of controlling the ms/ms experiment and the viabiUty of soft ionisation techniques which essentially yield only molecular ion species. 

In addition to the wet and optical spectrometric methods, which are often used to analyse elements present in very small proportions, there are also other techniques which can only be mentioned here. One is the method of mass spectrometry, in which the proportions of separate isotopes can be measured this can be linked to an instrument called a field-ion microscope, in which as we have seen individual atoms can be observed on a very sharp hemispherical needle tip through the mechanical action of a very intense electric field. Atoms which have been ionised and detached can then be analysed for isotopic mass. This has become a powerful device for both curiosity-driven and applied research. 

For off-bead analysis, coupling between chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric detection has proven especially powerful. The combination between high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry has the advantage that purity of product mixtures can be coupled on-line with the product identification. 

Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Dlnsdale RM, Guwy AJ (2007) Multi-residue method for the determination of basic/neutral pharmaceuticals and illicit dmgs in surface water by solid-phase extraction and ultra performance liquid chromatography-positive electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1161 132-145... 

Hvattum, E., Determination of phenolic compounds in rose hip (Rosa canina) using liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry and diode-array detection, Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 16, 655, 2002. 

The catalytic experiments were performed at the stationnary state and at atmospheric pressure, in a gas flow microreactor. The gas composition (NO, CO, O2, C3H, CO2 and H2O diluted with He) is representative of the composition of exhaust gases. The analysis, performed by gas chromatography (TCD detector for CO2, N2O, O2, N2, CO and flame ionisation detector for C3H6) and by on line IR spectrometry (NO and NO2) has been previously described (1). A small amount of the sample (10 mg diluted with 40 mg of inactive a AI2O3 ) was used in order to prevent mass and heat transfer limitations, at least at low conversion. The hourly space velocity varied between 120 000 and 220 000 h T The reaction was studied at increasing and decreasing temperatures (2 K/min) between 423 and 773 K. The redox character of the feedstream is defined by the number "s" equal to 2[02]+[N0] / [C0]+9[C3H6]. ... 

In this chapter, we have chosen from the scientific literature accounts of symposia published at intervals during the period 1920 1990. They are personal choices illustrating what we believe reflect significant developments in experimental techniques and concepts during this time. Initially there was a dependence on gas-phase pressure measurements and the construction of adsorption isotherms, followed by the development of mass spectrometry for gas analysis, surface spectroscopies with infrared spectroscopy dominant, but soon to be followed by Auger and photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission, field ionisation and diffraction methods. 

Mass spectrometry has a number of features and advantages that can make it a very valuable tool for the identification of organic additives in polymers (Table 6.2). The range of products that can be studied is limited by the ionisation method used and the performance of the mass spectrometer. Mass spectrometry... 

The mass spectrometer is a mass-flow sensitive device, which means that the signal is proportional to the mass flow dm/dl of the analyte, i.e. the concentration times the flow-rate. It is only now possible to realise the high (theoretically unlimited) mass range and the high-sensitivity multichannel recording capabilities that were anticipated many years ago. Of considerable interest to the problem of polymer/additive deformulation are some of the latest developments in mass spectrometry, namely atmospheric pressure ionisation (API), and the revival of time-of-flight spectrometers (allowing GC-ToFMS, MALDI-ToFMS, etc.). 

Applications Mass spectrometry has often been used more as an auxiliary, rather than a primary, identification method for additives in polymers. Table 6.5 shows the suitability of various ionisation modes for oligomer (and polymer) analysis. 

Fast atom bombardment (FAB) Plasma desorption (PD) Liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS) Thermospray (TSP)/plasmaspray (PSP) Electrohydrodynamic ionisation (EHI) Multiphoton ionisation (MPI) Atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) Electrospray ionisation (ESI) Ion spray (ISP) Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) Atmospheric pressure photoionisation (APPI) Triple quadrupole (QQQ) Four sector (EBEB) Hybrid (EBQQ) Hybrid (EB-ToF, Q-ToF) Tandem ToF-ToF Photomultiplier... 

The mass spectra of mixtures are often too complex to be interpreted unambiguously, thus favouring the separation of the components of mixtures before examination by mass spectrometry. Nevertheless, direct polymer/additive mixture analysis has been reported [22,23], which is greatly aided by tandem MS. Coupling of mass spectrometry and a flowing liquid stream involves vaporisation and solvent stripping before introduction of the solute into an ion source for gas-phase ionisation (Section 1.33.2). Widespread LC-MS interfaces are thermospray (TSP), continuous-flow fast atom bombardment (CF-FAB), electrospray (ESP), etc. Also, supercritical fluids have been linked to mass spectrometry (SFE-MS, SFC-MS). A mass spectrometer may have more than one inlet (total inlet systems). 

Principles and Characteristics Ionisation processes are the basis for mass-spectrometric detection. Each of the ionisation techniques occupies its own position in mass spectrometry. The optimum performance of any ionisation method (and therefore the result) will depend critically on the characteristics and reliability of the mass spectrometer. Ionisation may occur in the gas, liquid or condensed phase, and may be either hard or soft , i.e. with or without extensive... 

Electron impact ionisation (El) stands for extensive fragmentation, but also produces molecular ions. The other ionisation methods shown in Table 6.10 mainly generate quasi-molecular ions for various compound classes. Protonation of organic compounds is one of the most fundamental processes of Cl, FAB and ESI mass spectrometry. Apart from electrospray (ESI), which... 

For non-volatile sample molecules, other ionisation methods must be used, namely desorption/ionisation (DI) and nebulisation ionisation methods. In DI, the unifying aspect is the rapid addition of energy into a condensed-phase sample, with subsequent generation and release of ions into the mass analyser. In El and Cl, the processes of volatilisation and ionisation are distinct and separable in DI, they are intimately associated. In nebulisation ionisation, such as ESP or TSP, an aerosol spray is used at some stage to separate sample molecules and/or ions from the solvent liquid that carries them into the source of the mass spectrometer. Less volatile but thermally stable compounds can be thermally vaporised in the direct inlet probe (DIP) situated close to the ionising molecular beam. This DIP is standard equipment on most instruments an El spectrum results. Techniques that extend the utility of mass spectrometry to the least volatile and more labile organic molecules include FD, EHD, surface ionisation (SIMS, FAB) and matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALD) as the last... 

Figure 6.5 Comparison of the selectivity of ionisation methods in mass spectrometry...

Principles and Characteristics Electron impact (El) ionisation is the original ionisation method (1918). Before 1980, mass spectrometry was merely restricted to electron impact (El), with chemical ionisation (Cl) being applied mainly for those samples which resist generation of satisfactory El data. Nowadays, El is still a widely used universal and nonselective ionisation method. In El, the sample is introduced as a vapour... 

Supersonic molecular beam (SMB) mass spectrometry (SMB-MS) measures the mass spectrum of vibra-tionally cold molecules (cold El). Supersonic molecular beams [43] are formed by the co-expansion of an atmospheric pressure helium or hydrogen carrier gas, seeded with heavier sample organic molecules, through a simple pinhole (ca. 100 p,m i.d.) into a 10 5-mbar vacuum with flow-rates of 200 ml. rn in. In SMB, molecular ionisation is obtained either through improved electron impact ionisation, or through hyperthermal surface ionisation... 

Enhanced molecular ion implies reduced matrix interference. An SMB-El mass spectrum usually provides information comparable to field ionisation, but fragmentation can be promoted through increase of the electron energy. For many compounds the sensitivity of HSI can be up to 100 times that of El. Aromatics are ionised with a much greater efficiency than saturated compounds. Supersonic molecular beams are used in mass spectrometry in conjunction with GC-MS [44], LC-MS [45] and laser-induced multiphoton ionisation followed by time-of-flight analysis [46]. 

In a study on the identification of organic additives in rubber vulcanisates using mass spectrometry, Lattimer et al. [22] used direct thermal desorption with three different ionisation methods El, Cl and FI. Also, rubber extracts were examinated directly by four ionisation methods (El, Cl, FD and FAB). The authors did not report a clear advantage for direct analysis as compared to analysis after extraction. Direct analysis was a little faster, but the extraction methods were considered to be more versatile. 

Applications Early MS work on the analysis of polymer additives has focused on the use of El, Cl, and GC-MS. The major drawback to these methods is that they are limited to thermally stable and relatively volatile compounds and therefore are not suitable for many high-MW polymer additives. This problem has largely been overcome by the development of soft ionisation techniques, such as FAB, FD, LD, etc. and secondary-ion mass spectrometry. These techniques all have shown their potential in the analysis of additives from solvent extract and/or from bulk polymeric material. Although FAB has a reputation of being the most often used soft ionisation method, Johlman el al. [83] have shown that LD is superior to FAB in the analysis of polymer additives, mainly because polymer additives fragment extensively under FAB conditions. 

Recently, Lattimer et al. [22,95] advocated the use of mass spectrometry for direct analysis of nonvolatile compounding agents in polymer matrices as an alternative to extraction procedures. FAB-MS was thus applied as a means for surface desorption/ionisation of vulcanisates. FAB is often not as effective as other ionisation methods (El, Cl, FI, FD), and FAB-MS is not considered particularly useful for extracted rubber additives analysis compared to other methods that are available [36], The effectiveness of the FAB technique has been demonstrated for the analysis of a live-component additive mixture [96]. 

In the deformulation of PE/additive systems by mass spectrometry, much less fragmentation was observed with DCI-MS/MS using ammonia as a reagent gas, than with FAB-MS [69]. FAB did not detect all the additives in the extracts. The softness and the lack of matrix effect make ammonia DCI a better ionisation technique than FAB for the analysis of additives directly from the extracts. Applications of hyphenated FAB-MS techniques are described elsewhere low-flow LC-MS (Section 7.3.3.2) and CE-MS (Section 7.3.6.1) for polar nonvolatile organics, and TLC-MS (Section 7.3.5.4). 

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