Mass spectrometers sample handling

For capillary columns, the usual practice is to insert the exit end of the column into the ion source. This is possible because under normal operating conditions the mass spectrometer pumping system can handle the entire effluent from the column. It is then only necessary to heat the capillary column between the GC and the MS ion source, taking care to eliminate cold spots where analyte could condense. The interface must be heated above the boiling point of the highest-boiling component of the sample. 

Reliable analytical methods are available for determination of many volatile nitrosamines at concentrations of 0.1 to 10 ppb in a variety of environmental and biological samples. Most methods employ distillation, extraction, an optional cleanup step, concentration, and final separation by gas chromatography (GC). Use of the highly specific Thermal Energy Analyzer (TEA) as a GC detector affords simplification of sample handling and cleanup without sacrifice of selectivity or sensitivity. Mass spectrometry (MS) is usually employed to confirm the identity of nitrosamines. Utilization of the mass spectrometer s capability to provide quantitative data affords additional confirmatory evidence and quantitative confirmation should be a required criterion of environmental sample analysis. Artifactual formation of nitrosamines continues to be a problem, especially at low levels (0.1 to 1 ppb), and precautions must be taken, such as addition of sulfamic acid or other nitrosation inhibitors. The efficacy of measures for prevention of artifactual nitrosamine formation should be evaluated in each type of sample examined. 

The DEP ends with a filament wire onto which a drop of sample is deposited. After evaporation to dryness, the probe is introduced into the source of the mass spectrometer and is rapidly heated to a temperature that can reach 1000°C. This probe is ideal for the study of high molecular weight or polymeric components. It is mostly dedicated to the analysis of samples in the liquid state. Although a small solid fragment of matter may be placed on the filament, this critical operation may lead to the loss of the sample, especially if it is particularly small. To avoid such a difficult handling, the sample may be ground and homogenised in a mini-mortar and then made into suspension with a few drops of appropriate solvent (Scalarone et al., 2003). 

Personnel working in some programs at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) may handle radioactive materials that, under certain circumstances, could be taken into the body. Employees are monitored for such intakes through a series of routine and special bioassay measurements. One such measurement involves a thermal ionization mass spectrometer. In this technique, the metals in a sample are electroplated onto a rhenium filament. This filament is inserted into the ion source of the mass spectrometer and a current is passed through it. The ions of the plutonium isotopes are thus formed and then accelerated through the magnetic held. The number of ions of each isotope are counted and the amount of Pu-239 in the original sample calculated by comparison to a standard. 

Mass spectrometry (MS) has changed its appearance in the scientific world considerably during recent years. At the beginning of the 20 century first applications in physics were described. Gradually MS methods entered more and more into the fields of biology, biochemistry and biomedicine and became a major tool in life sciences. Mass spectrometers consist of a sequence of functional units for sample introduction, ion formation, mass separation, and detection. The data handling is carried out by computers. Currently, a variety of different mass spectrometric techniques are used for the analysis of biomolecules (Fig. 6). 

Chapter 10 briefly addresses future trends as Dr Becker sees them emerging. She looks to higher resolution mass spectrometers for better interference separation, better sensitivity and lower detection limits. With this enhanced analytical power she also predicts increased user friendliness, better isotope ratio measurements, smaller sample sizes, enhanced capability to handle transient signals and further advances in sample introduction. 

Time-of-flight (TOF) MS detectors (Fig. 15.7) are commonly used in pro-teomics studies of proteins and protein fragments because this type of detector can handle and analyze very large molecular and fragmentation ions. Fourier transform mass spectrometers (FTMS) are being incorporated into commercial LC/MS systems and offer the advantage of being nondestructive detectors that can trap and repeatedly analyze the same sample in order... 

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