Mass spectrometer, choice ionization methods

Universal and selective detectors, linked to GC or LC systems, have remained the predominant choice of analysts for the past two decades for the determination of pesticide residues in food. Although the introduction of bench-top mass spectrometers has enabled analysts to produce more unequivocal residue data for most pesticides, in many laboratories the use of selective detection methods, such as flame photometric detection (FPD), electron capture detection (BCD) and alkali flame ionization detection (AFID) or nitrogen-phosphorus detection (NPD), continues. Many of the new technologies associated with the on-going development of instrumental methods are discussed. However, the main objective of this section is to describe modern techniques that have been demonstrated to be of use to the pesticide residue analyst. 

Detection of the effluent in a 2D system is carried out at the end of the second dimension s column. UVand LIF are the most widely used and the simplest methods of detection for CE separations because they are performed on-column. MS detection, unlike UV and LIF, is carried out on the effluent as it exits the CE column. The direct coupling of CE with mass spectrometry has shown great potential in proteomic research (Janini et al., 2004). The method of choice for detection of peptides is MS-electrospray ionization (ESI). However, ESI requires a special interface between the CE column and the mass spectrometer that has proven not to be a simple matter (Issaq et al., 2004). 

Photoionization ti me-of-fli ght mass spectrometry is almost exclusively the method used in chemical reaction studies. The mass spectrometers, detectors and electronics are almost identical. A major distinction is the choice of ionizing frequency and intensity. For many stable molecules multi photon ionization allowed for almost unit detection efficiency with controllable fragmentation(20). For cluster systems this has been more difficult because high laser intensities generally cause extensive dissociation of neutrals and ions(21). This has forced the use of single photon ionization. This works very well for low i oni zati on potential metals ( < 7.87 eV) if the intensity is kept fairly low. In fact for most systems the ionizing laser must be attenuated. A few very small... 

The final stage of the residue analysis procedures involves the chromatographic separation and instrumental determination. Where chromatographic properties of some food residues are affected by sample matrix, calibration solutions should be prepared in sample matrix. The choice of instrument depends on the physicochemical properties of the analyte(s) and the sensitivity required. As the majority of residues are relatively volatile, GC has proved to be an excellent technique for pesticides and drug residues determination and is by far the most widely used. Thermal conductivity, flame ionization, and, in certain applications, electron capture and nitrogen phosphorus detectors (NPD) were popular in GC analysis. In current residue GC methods, the universality, selectivity, and specificity of the mass spectrometer (MS) in combination with electron-impact ionization (El) is by far preferred. 

Over the past two decades, QMF-based quantification assays have become the technique of choice for quantification of drug candidates and their metabolites. Combining a mass spectrometer with LC provides an additional degree of selectivity and makes the combined technique the method of choice for quantitative bioanalysis of drugs and metabolites. Among the mass spectrometer types, QMF are ideal for coupling with LC and atmospheric pressure ionization sources (ESI, APCI, APPI, DART, DESI, etc.) because QMFs have the lowest voltage requirements and vacuum requirements. 

Electron impact ionization is the method of choice for the generation of molecular ions to be analyzed in a mass spectrometer [55, 56]. This method is based on essentially the same principle as radiolytical generation, but it is used at considerably lower pressures, typically 10 6 torr. High energy electrons, tuned to energies between 10 and 70 eV, are ejected from a heated filament and impact on molecules contained in an evacuated ionization chamber. In the collision, energy is transferred to the substrate causing ionization. 

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) is the usual method of choice for the separation of anthocyanins combined with an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) or diode-array detector (DAD)(Hebrero et al., 1988 Hong et ah, 1990). With reversed-phase columns the elution pattern of anthocyanins is mainly dependent on the partition coefficients between the mobile phase and the Cjg stationary phase, and on the polarity of the analytes. The mobile phase consists normally of an aqueous solvent (water/carboxylic acid) and an organic solvent (methanol or acetonitrile/carboxylic acid). Typically the amount of carboxylic acid has been up to 10%, but with the addition of a mass spectrometer as a detector, the amount of acid has been decreased to as low as 1 % with a shift from trifluoroacetic acid to formic acid to prevent quenching of the ionization process that may occur with trifluoroacetic acid. The acidic media allows for the complete displacement of the equilibrium to the fiavylium cation, resulting in better resolution and a characteristic absorbance between 515 and 540 nm. HPLC separation methods, combined with electrochemical or DAD, are effective tools for anthocyanin analysis. The weakness of these detection methods is a lack of structural information and some nonspecificity leading to misattribution of peaks, particularly with electrochemical... 

Finally, the detection by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS), which has been largely dependent on the price, mode of ionization, and ease of operation of the mass spectrometer, is becoming popular [8]. It is predicted that LC-MS will become the method of choice for lipid analysis in coming years. 

Inductively coupled plasma has become the ionization method of choice for elemental mass spectrometry. It was initially developed as the excitation source for multi-element optical spectrometers, because at typical plasma temperatures of 5000-10,000°C virtually all elements on the periodic chart emit detectable light. Most molecules are also atomized at these temperatures, which makes inductively coupled plasma ideal for mass spectrometry monitoring of elemental composition as well. Fassell and co-workers introduced the first inductively coupled plasma interfaced to a mass spectrometer in 1980 (Houk et al., 1980). Elemental mass spectrometry normally requires only low-resolution analysers because unit mass resolution is typically required (i.e. the mass difference between elements, which is always equal to or greater than 1 Da). 

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