Ionization methods, mass measurements

The ion current resulting from collection of the mass-separated ions provides a measure of the numbers of ions at each m/z value (the ion abundances). Note that for this ionization method, all ions have only a single positive charge, z = 1, so that m/z = m, which means that masses are obtained directly from the measured m/z values. Thus, after the thermal ionization process, m/z values and abundances of ions are measured. The accurate measurement of relative ion abundances provides highly accurate isotope ratios. This aspect is developed more fully below. 

In its simplest form, a mass spectrometer is an instmment that measures the mass-to-charge ratios ml of ions formed when a sample is ionized by one of a number of different ionization methods (1). If some of the sample molecules are singly ionized and reach the ion detector without fragmenting, then the ml ratio of these ions gives a direct measurement of the molecular weight. The first instmment for positive ray analysis was built by Thompson (2) in 1913 to show the existence of isotopic forms of the stable elements. Later, mass spectrometers were used for precision measurements of ionic mass and abundances (3,4). 

In contrast to most other ionization methods, the majority of ions produced by electrospray are multiply charged. This is of great significance as the mass spectrometer measures the m/z (mass-to-charge) ratio of an ion and the mass range of an instrument may therefore be effectively extended by a factor equivalent to the number of charges residing on the analyte molecule, i.e. an ion of m/z 1000 with... 

Specifically for triazines in water, multi-residue methods incorporating SPE and LC/MS/MS will soon be available that are capable of measuring numerous parent compounds and all their relevant degradates (including the hydroxytriazines) in one analysis. Continued increases in liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/API-MS/MS) sensitivity will lead to methods requiring no aqueous sample preparation at all, and portions of water samples will be injected directly into the LC column. The use of SPE and GC or LC coupled with MS and MS/MS systems will also be applied routinely to the analysis of more complex sample matrices such as soil and crop and animal tissues. However, the analyte(s) must first be removed from the sample matrix, and additional research is needed to develop more efficient extraction procedures. Increased selectivity during extraction also simplifies the sample purification requirements prior to injection. Certainly, miniaturization of all aspects of the analysis (sample extraction, purification, and instrumentation) will continue, and some of this may involve SEE, subcritical and microwave extraction, sonication, others or even combinations of these techniques for the initial isolation of the analyte(s) from the bulk of the sample matrix. 

Resonance ionization methods (RIMS) have also been explored for improving Th ionization efficiency for mass spectrometric measurement (Johnson and Fearey 1993). As shown in Figure 3, two lasers are required, a continuous resonant dye laser for resonance of thorium atoms, and a continuous UV argon laser for transition from resonance to ionization. Consequently, sophisticated laser instrumentation is required for these methods. 

Like sector analyzers, quadrupole analyzers are well suited for continuous ion sources such as ESI, but are not well-suited for pulsed ionization methods. Quadmpole mass spectrometers are generally substantially cheaper and smaller than sector instruments and Qq-TOFs. They are very often used in combination with GC and LC, and single or triple quadmpole mass filters are very common benchtop instruments for routine measurements. 

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique to measure molecular masses and to elucidate the structure of molecules by recording the products of their ionization. The mass spectrum is a unique characteristic of a compound. In general it contains information on the molecular mass of an analyte and the masses of its structural fragments. An ion with the heaviest mass in the spectrum is called a molecular ion and represents the molecular mass of the analyte. Because atomic and molecular masses are simple and well-known parameters, a mass spectrum is much easier to understand and interpret than nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), or other types of spectra obtained with various physicochemical methods. Mass spectra are represented in graphic or table format (Fig. 5.1). 

A third source of error is associated with the fragmentation pattern caused by dissociation of the molecular ions formed in the source region of the spectrometer. Under severe conditions these processes may proceed with substantial isotopic fractionation, and this obscures the measurements of isotopic composition at the collector. To some extent careful standardization of the instrumental conditions may ensure that errors from fragmentation are systematic, and thus cancel (at least to some extent). Alternatively, softer ionization methods can be used to prevent most or all of the fragmentation. The bottom spectrum in Fig. 7.7 illustrates this approach it shows the mass spectrum of chlorobenzene obtained by photoionization. Only the parent molecular ions are observed. It should be kept in mind, however, that softer ionization usually yields smaller ion currents and consequently statistical counting errors increase. 

In order to successfully interpret a mass spectrum, we have to know about the isotopic masses and their relation to the atomic weights of the elements, about isotopic abundances and the isotopic patterns resulting therefrom and finally, about high-resolution and accurate mass measurements. These issues are closely related to each other, offer a wealth of analytical information, and are valid for any type of mass spectrometer and any ionization method employed. (The kinetic aspect of isotopic substitution are discussed in Chap. 2.9.)... 

Cl in conjunction with a direct exposure probe is known as desorption chemical ionization (DCI). [30,89,90] In DCI, the analyte is applied from solution or suspension to the outside of a thin resistively heated wire loop or coil. Then, the analyte is directly exposed to the reagent gas plasma while being rapidly heated at rates of several hundred °C s and to temperatures up to about 1500 °C (Chap. 5.3.2 and Fig. 5.16). The actual shape of the wire, the method how exactly the sample is applied to it, and the heating rate are of importance for the analytical result. [91,92] The rapid heating of the sample plays an important role in promoting molecular species rather than pyrolysis products. [93] A laser can be used to effect extremely fast evaporation from the probe prior to CL [94] In case of nonavailability of a dedicated DCI probe, a field emitter on a field desorption probe (Chap. 8) might serve as a replacement. [30,95] Different from desorption electron ionization (DEI), DCI plays an important role. [92] DCI can be employed to detect arsenic compounds present in the marine and terrestrial environment [96], to determine the sequence distribution of P-hydroxyalkanoate units in bacterial copolyesters [97], to identify additives in polymer extracts [98] and more. [99] Provided appropriate experimental setup, high resolution and accurate mass measurements can also be achieved in DCI mode. [100]... 

Powell, K.D. Wales, T.E. Fitzgerald, M.C. Thermodynamic stability measurements on multimeric proteins using a new H/D exchange-and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization (MALDl) mass spectrometry-based method. Protein Sci. 2002, 11, 841-851. 

In a time-of-flight (TOF) analyzer the time of flight of ions between the ion source and the detector is measured [61]. This requires that the time at which the ions leave the ion source is well-defined. Therefore, ions are either formed by a pulsed ionization method or various kinds of rapid electric field switching. The single discontinuous laser pulses at distinct time points used in MALDI can be ideally combined with time-of-flight mass separation. TOF analyzers thus received increasing interest with the development of MALDI MS. The schematic draw of a linear MALDI-TOF MS is shown in Fig. (9). 

A striking feature of the ILs is their low vapor pressure. This, on the other hand, is a factor hampering their investigation by MS. For example, a technique like electron impact (El) MS, based on thermal evaporation of the sample prior to ionization of the vaporized analyte by collision with an electron beam, has only rarely been applied for the analysis of this class of compounds. In contrast, nonthermal ionization methods, like fast atom bombardment (FAB), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), ESI, and MALDI suit better for this purpose. Measurement on the atomic level after burning the sample in a hot plasma (up to 8000°C), as realized in inductively coupled plasma (ICP) MS, has up to now only rarely been applied in the field of IE (characterization of gold particles dissolved in IE [1]). This method will potentially attract more interest in the future, especially, when the coupling of this method with chromatographic separations becomes a routine method. 

The adiabatic character of EB energy deposition is used in calorimetry, which is the primary absolute method of measuring the absorbed dose (energy per unit mass).1 It measures the amount of heat produced by the absorption of the ionizing radiation. An example is the water calorimeter developed by Risp National Laboratory in Denmark.2-3 This instrument is reported to be suitable for electrons from a linear accelerator with energies higher than 5 MeV and shows accuracy of 2%.4... 

Chemists now routinely use open-access LC/MS in the same way that they previously used TLC to monitor reaction mixtures for the desired product and to optimize reaction conditions. In practice, medicinal chemists require only molecular mass data and are comfortable with a variety of ionization methods to obtain this information. However, confidence in the actual method and procedure is a requisite. Today, molecular mass measurement has quickly become a preferred means of structure confirmation over NMR and IR during the early stages of synthetic chemistry activities, where sample quantities are limited. 

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