Mass spectroscopic ionization techniques

Although, experimentally the proton affinity can be determined by several techniques like the measurement of the heats of formation (Bouchoux 2007) of the species involved in the adduct formation reaction, by mass spectroscopic measurement techniques (Lias et al. 1984 Bronsted 1923 Meot-Ner 1979) and by the measurement of the ionization thresholds. The acid-base adducts are not always stable and/or does not exist in all cases and also it is well known (Dixon et al. 1987) that the experimental determination of the proton affinities of molecules is not easy always. For this reason, in recent years, much emphasis has been given to the possibility of the calculation of proton affinities through some quantum mechanical as well as density functional theoretical models (Curtiss et al. 1993 Del Bene 1983 Smith et al. 1995 Jursic 1999 Hammerum 1999). 

Mass spectroscopy is a useful technique for the characterization of dendrimers because it can be used to determine relative molar mass. Also, from the fragmentation pattern, the details of the monomer assembly in the branches can be confirmed. A variety of mass spectroscopic techniques have been used for this, including electron impact, fast atom bombardment and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectroscopy. 

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). 

The most-used spectroscopic method in drug analysis is mass spectrometry (MS). It allows (depending on the ionization technique) measurement of impurities at the nanogram or picogram level if an ion bombarding technique is used, even... 

The detection and identification of phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids, have also been simph-fied using mass spectrometry (MS) techniques on-hne, coupled to the HPLC equipment. The electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interfaces dominate the analysis of phenohcs in herbs, fmits, vegetables, peels, seeds, and other plants. In some cases, HPLC, with different sensitivity detectors (UV, electrochemical, fluorescence), and HPLC-MS are simultaneously used for the identification and determination of phenolic acids in natural plants and related food products.In some papers, other spectroscopic instmmental techniques (IR, H NMR, and C NMR) have also been apphed for the identification of isolated phenolic compounds. 

While the use of direct absorption methods has grown, indirect action spectroscopic methods continue to be widely and successfully used in the study of neutral molecular clusters. As mentioned earlier, there are two commonly used detection methods, mass spectrometers and bolometers. Because of the variety of mass-spectroscopic methods, there is an equally wide range of techniques used in neutral cluster spectroscopy. One of the oldest among these involves electron-impact mass spectrometry of a cw neutral beam combined with vibrational predissociation spectroscopy using a tunable cw or pulsed laser. The advent of continuously tunable infrared sources (such as color center lasers and LiNbOa optical parametric oscillators) allowed for detailed studies of size and composition variation in neutral clusters. However, fragmentation of the clusters within the ionizer of the mass spectrometer, severely limited the identification of particular clusters with specific masses. Isotopic methods were able to mitigate some of the limitations, but only in a few cases. 

Alan Gray first suggested the connection of a plasma source and a mass spectrometer in 1975. The direct current plasma jet was first applied in this new technique. Later it was shown that the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) met the requirements better than the DCP for an ionization source of mass spectroscopic analysis. The pioneering work of ICP-MS was mainly conducted by three research groups (Fassel, Gray, and Date). 

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