Plasma desorption description

Plasma desorption mass spectrometer Biolon 20 and aluminized polyester targets are from Biolon. The spin apparatus was homemade (description available from the author). Gilson adjustable automat pipettes (2, 10, 20, 100, and 2(X) 1) are from Gilson Medical Electronics. The Heto Vac VRl vacuum centrifuge equipped with a Heto CTllO cold trap is from Heto Lab). 

Observations of alkali-metal ion adducts of the type [M+Li]+ [M+Na]+ etc. are common in the desorption ionization (DI) mass spectra of a variety of polar molecules. In fact, alkali-metal ion association reactions are observed with FD ionization, FAB ionization, Cf plasma desorption (PD), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), MALDI, and ESI. Ion yields can be greatly enhanced by addition of alkali-metal salts to the sample. Particularly for the MALDI analysis of synthetic polymers, metal cations are often intentionally added to enhance signals. A qualitative description of the current understanding of formation mechanism of alkali-metal ion complexes from the condensed phase was presented [75]. Knowledge of the ionization mechanisms is important and helpful from the perspective of increasing the analytical utility of the method. 

The rapid development of mass spectrometric technology and the wide field of applications exclude a complete and comprehensive discussion of mass spectrometric possibilities for trace analysis of metals. Therefore, this report will give a brief outline of the principles of mass spectrometry (MS) and the fundamentals of qualitative and quantitative mass spectrometric analysis with emphasis on recent developments and results. The classical methods of analysis of solids, i.e. spark-source MS and thermal ionization MS, as well as newer methods of metal analysis are described. Focal points in this survey of recently developed techniques include secondary ion MS , laser probe MS , plasma ion source MS gas discharge MS and field desorption MS . Here, a more detailed description is given and the merits of these emerging methods are discussed more explicitly. In particular, the results of the FD techniques in elemental analyses are reviewed and critically evaluated. 

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