Mass spectrometry broadens its horizons

A report of the 9th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, held in Vienna, Austria, from 30 August to 3 September 1982     

Trends in surface and interface analysis

Summary The rapid progress in high technology constantly poses new challenges for Analytical Chemistry and prompts the development of new techniques and procedures. The influence is particularly strong in surface and interface analysis, which is developing at a rapid pace. This paper discusses some of the frontier areas like high-resolution depth-distribution analysis of trace elements, quantitative depth distribution analysis of ultra thin-layer systems, quantitative trace element analysis in monolayers, 3-dimensional stereometric analysis, molecular analysis, in-situ atomic resolution analysis of surfaces (chemical nanoscopy). Methodological approaches are discussed as well as results obtained mainly with solid state mass spectrometry and atomic force microscopy.Abbreviations and acronyms AES Auger Electron Spectrometry - AEM Analytical Electron Microscopy - AFM Atomic Force Microscopy - BSE Back Scattered Electrons - EPMA Electron Probe Micro Analysis - LRI-SNMS Laser Resonance Ionization Sputtered Neutrals Mass Spectrometry - SE Secondary Electrons - SEM Scanning Electron Microscopy - SIMS Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry - STM Scanning Tunneling Microscopy - TEM Transmission Electron Microscopy - TOF-MS Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer - TXRF Total Reflection X-Ray Spectrometry - XPS X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Dedicated to Professor Dr. Wilhelm Fresenius on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Organization, management and operation of contemporary academic mass spectrometry service facilities

The rapid evolution of mass spectrometry in the past 15 years has moved mass spectrometry facilities from the traditional model in which instruments were located in and used for a single department's samples to a distributed model servicing entire universities. In this paper we describe two such shared instrument facilities that have evolved from a base in a single department to facilities that service a broad clientele. The Purdue University Campus-wide Mass Spectrometry Center (CWMSC) is a decentralized facility with multiple sites on campus. The CWMSC is a limited-access facility in which samples are run by service facility personnel in close cooperation with investigators. The Vanderbilt University Mass Spectrometry Research Center (VU-MSRC) is a centralized facility in the medical school that provides services to the university at large. The VU-MSRC is an open-access facility in which users are expected to prepare and analyze their own samples under the guidance of a trained operator. Perhaps the most significant benefit achieved by these models has been the minimization of academic barriers and the resultant intellectual cross-fertilization that has greatly enriched research at institutions where this approach has been adopted. The advantages and limitations of both models are discussed in terms of the traditional academic paradigm of service, research and education.     

Recent developments in radioanaytical technologies for environmental investigations

Radiometric techniques, specifically underground gamma-ray spectrometry, have been recently widely applied in the analysis of short and medium-lived radionuclides in the environment. Long-lived radionuclides have been mostly analysed by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. These developments have considerably improved the detection limits for analysis of radionuclides in the terrestrial and marine environments. They have also decreased required sample volumes so applications, which have not been possible before either because of sample size or required sensitivity, have become feasible. The recent developments are illustrated by applications of radiometric and mass spectrometry techniques in isotope hydrology and oceanography.     

Ion mobility spectrometry in scientific literature and in the International Journal for Ion Mobility Spectrometry (1998–2007)

Starting in 1998 the International Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry, organising the annual conferences on ion mobility spectrometry, began to issue the International Journal for Ion Mobility Spectrometry. Now, in the 11th year the journal will be the first year together with SPRINGER. Therefore, the article focusses on the history of IMS providing an up to date account based on a systemetic search using the Web-of-Science and SciFinder search engines.     

Classical analysis including trace-matrix separation versus solid state mass spectrometry: A comparative study for the analysis of high purity Mo,W and Cr

The applicability of GDMS, SIMS, SSMS, NAA and TMS with AAS, ICP-OES and ICP-MS end determination for routine bulk ultratrace analysis of high purity refractory metals was investigated. Due to the heterogeneous distribution of trace elements in the sub-ppm range, sample consumption and analysis time have a tremendous influence on quantification with procedures of low sample consumption. As an example, GDMS, which is commonly used for ultrapure material certification by most of the manufacturers in Europe and the USA, exhibits discrepancies by more than one order of magnitude for repetitive analyses of a series of trace components in the same sample. Furthermore, results of different laboratories using the same instrument are frequently not comparable. Due to easy standardization and large sample consumption TMS procedures combined with FAAS, GFAAS, ICP-AES and ICP-MS as methods of end determination exhibit better precision and accuracy than GDMS and SIMS. Detection limits are comparably low or even better in case of ICP-MS end determination. TMS procedures are less expensive and less time consuming than highly sophisticated analytical techniques like GDMS, SIMS or NAA. Additionally, they can be easily applied by experienced personnel in a well equipped industrial analytical laboratory.List of Acronyms Used AAS Atomic Absorption Spectrometry - FAAS Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry - GDMB Gesellschaft Deutscher Metallhütten- und Bergleute - GDMS Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry - GFAAS Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry - ICP-AES Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry - ICP-MS Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry - IDMS Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry - NAA Neutron Activation Analysis - SIMS Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry - SSMS Spark Source Mass Spectrometry - TMS Trace-Matrix Separation - VLSI Very Large Scale Integration - XRFS X-Ray fluorescence Spectroscopy Dedicated to Professor Günther Tölg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Detection of fragment genesis in the mass spectrometer. III. Analysis of amino-acid sequence in oligopeptides and in mixtures of oligopeptides by DADI-mass spectrometry (author's transl)]

Detection of Fragment Genesis in the Mass Spectrometer. III. Analysis of Amino-Acid Sequence in Oligopeptides and in Mixtures of Oligopeptides by DADI-Mass Spectrometry. The amino acid sequence was analysed by DADI mass spectrometry in simple oligopeptides and in mixtures containing two or three peptides.     

Progress and Prospect of Inorganic Membranes in Research and Application—a Report on the 7^th International Conference on Inorganic Membranes Held in Dalian,China

The 7th International Conference on Inorganic Membranes (ICIM-7)was held in Dalian,China,from June 23rd to 26th,2002 under the Chairmanship of Professor Guoxing Xiong of the state Key Laboratory of Catalysis,Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

Nachweis von Fragment-Genesen im Massenspektrometer. 5. Mitteilung Aminosäure-Sequenzanalyse: Vergleich der DADI/MIKE-, ‘linked scan’- und Kollisionsaktivierungs-Spektrometrie an aliphatischen Aminosäuren

Detection of Fragment Genesis in the Mass Spectrometer. V. Amino Acid Sequence Analysis by DADI/MIKE, Linked Scan and Collisional Activation Mass Spectrometry. Aliphatic Amino Acids The amino acid sequence in tripeptides and tetrapeptides has been analyzed by DADI/MIKE and B/E-‘linked scan’ spectrometry, as well as by collisional activation in the first and second field free region of a mass spectrometer embodying the inverse Nier-Johnson geometry. Collisional activation enhances the intensity of fragment ions.     

Identifizierung von Aminen

4-Dimethylamino-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl derivatives of amines (DADB-amines) having different chemical structures were examined via thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry. The fragmentation of these compounds due to electron bombardment is discussed. On the basis of mass spectra of the DADB-amines, the structure of an unknown amine can be derived to a great extent. In some cases, e.g. many isoand n-alkyl amines, additional NMR-measurements are usefull. Mass Spectrometry makes it possible, particularly in combination with thin-layer chromatography, to identify unknown amines in complex mixtures rapidly and accurately.     

Certified reference materials for the determination of cadmium in polyethylene

Four polyethylene reference materials with cadmium concentrations in the range of 40 to 400 mg/kg have been certified by IRMM on behalf of Verband der Automobilindustrie e.V. (VDA), Frankfurt, Germany. The homogeneity of the materials was verified using Solid Sampling Zeeman Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (SS-ZAAS). Their cadmium content was determined by Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS) using a quadrupole thermal ionization mass spectrometer. The certified uncertainties were about 3% relative and correspond to confidence levels of 95%; they take into account all contributions of statistical and systematic nature. The material was used within the scope of IRMM's International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP).     

Feasibility study: fast liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry for the quantification of aspartic acid in an aspartate drug

We have studied the feasibility of fast high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode for the quantitative determination of aspartic acid in an aspartate drug. Internal standardization was required, but mass spectrometric detection allowed for very short retention times of approximately 0.5 min for the analyte and the internal standard without chromatographic separation. The analytical system was found stable, as demonstrated by multiple injections giving a coefficient of variation of 4% for the peak area ratio of aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Calibrations were linear between 0.5 ng and 150 ng aspartic acid injected, with accuracies between 99.8% and 102% found for the back-calculated amounts. Investigation of several drug batches gave reasonable results. Therefore, the method appeared feasible for the determination of aspartic acid in an aspartate drug from 0.3 wt% to 100 wt% aspartic acid.Abbreviations CV coefficient of variation - ESI electrospray ionization - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - HSGC headspace gas chromatography - KaFi Karl Fischer titration - MS mass spectrometry - MSD mass-selective detector - % m/m percentage by weight - PAR peak area ratio - r² coefficient of determination - RP reversed-phase - SIM selected ion monitoringThis work was originally presented as a poster at the Conference of the German Society for Mass Spectrometry, 9–12 March 2003, in Münster, Germany     

Laser ionization mass spectrometry in inorganic trace analysis

Summary Among the different spectrometric techniques for trace analysis Laser Ionization Mass Spectrometry (LIMS) is well established as a trace analytical method. With the LIMS technique the sample material is evaporated and ionized by means of a focused pulsed laser in a laser microplasma, which is formed in the spot area of the irradiated sample. All chemical elements in the sample materials are evaporated and ionized in the laser plasma. The ions formed are separated according to their mass and energy by a time-of-flight, quadrupole or double focusing mass spectrometer. In this review the characteristics and analytical features, some recent developments and applications of laser ionization mass spectrometry in inorganic trace analysis are described.     

Bericht über einige Themen des MS/GC-Diskussionstreffens,Zürich, 13. 1. 1968

Zusammenfassung Zum 5. Internationalen Treffen des Arbeitskreises Gas-Chromatographie/Massenspektrometrie-Kopplung hatte Professor Dr. W. Simon für den 13. Januar 1968 in die Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich eingeladen. Die 40 Teilnehmer diskutierten über zahlreiche Details der Kopplungstechnik, über Probleme der Datenverarbeitung und der Interpretation der Massenspektren, wie sie unter den Bedingungen der direkten instrumentellen Kopplung anfallen. (Probenzersetzung, Datenverarbeitung, Festmassentechnik bzw. mass-fragmentography, allgemeine Diskussion, peak matching, Hochauflösung).

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Report on some Subjects discussed at the Meeting of the Mass Spectrometry/Gas Chromatography (MS/GC) Discussion Group, Zurich, 13. 1. 1968

Summary A report on some of the results of the 5th meeting of the international Mass Spectrometry/Gas Chromatography (MS/GC) Discussion Group, Zürich, Jan. 13th, 1968 is given. Diacetone alcohol was the sample measured in 8 to 12 different instruments, MS only and MS/GC combination. Part of the mass spectrum is a basis for critical comparison. The results of a discussion on data processing is given by K. Habfast and an additional table comparing the expenses is given by W. Simon.

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Rapport sur quelques sujets discutés à l'occasion du meeting du Discussion Group Spectrométrie de Masse/Chromatographie en Phase Gazeuse (MS/GC), Zurich, 13. 1. 1968

     

New Developments in the Rayon Industry

Abstract

In August 1988 the International Symposium of Macromolecules (MACRO 88) was held at the International Conference Hall located in the northeastern part of Kyoto. At the same time, at the National Museum in the southeastern part of the city, an exhibition of Treasures of Ancient Egypt, including rolls of papyrus (the origin of paper) was displayed. At the symposium, Prof. Nishijima [l], President of Kyoto University, gave an address in which he stated “… I feel there is some- thing more than mere coincidence that both this symposium of MACRO 88 and the exhibition of Egyptian Art and Technology are held at the same time in the North and South of Kyoto. The civilization of 5000 years ago meets most recent develop- ments of integrated science and technology as MACRO 88. It is the accession over the span of millennia.”     

Trends in radiometrics and mass spectrometry technologies: synergy in environmental analyses

The dominant development in the radiometrics techniques for the analysis of short and medium-lived radionuclides in the environment was the utilisation of large volume Ge detectors in underground laboratories with additional anti-cosmic shielding. In the mass spectrometry sector, applications of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) for the analysis of long-lived radionuclides in the environment are the most important recent achievements. These developments in both sectors did not only considerably decrease the detection limits for several radionuclides (up to several orders of magnitude), but they also enable to decrease sample volumes so that sampling, e.g. of the water column, can be much easier and more effective. Applications of radiometrics and mass spectrometry techniques in isotope oceanography, specifically on the distribution of ³H, ¹⁴C, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹²⁹I, ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁹Pu and ²⁴⁰Pu in the water column of the North Pacific and South Indian Oceans are presented and discussed.     

MathIOmica‐MSViewer: a dynamic viewer for mass spectrometry files for Mathematica

MathIOmica‐MSViewer is an add‐on graphical user interface utility for the Mathematica software system which facilitates the visualization and exploration of spectra from open format mass spectrometry files (mzXML and mzML standard community formats). The viewer was designed for simplicity and handling of large mass spectrometry data files. To facilitate searches, users may use search filters for the spectra based on mass to charge ratios and retention times, and visualize precursor spectra associated to a parent spectrum. Availability: The viewer is available as a Mathematica notebook (MathIOmica‐MSViewer.nb) at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.321385 . The software is provided under an MIT License. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Mass Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiplex target protein imaging in tissue sections by mass spectrometry--TAMSIM

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is becoming a popular tool for imaging histological sections. Currently, this technology is used to image naturally occurring molecules. Here we report a novel development for multiplex imaging of candidate proteins. Rather than detecting whatever molecules happen to be present and above the detection threshold in the desorption pixel, we attach photocleavable mass tags to antibodies to target proteins. 'Staining' of histological sections is carried out similarly to common immunohistochemical procedures with chemiluminescent or fluorescent detection using all antibodies of a multiplex simultaneously. Mass tags with discrete masses are released from their respective antibodies by a laser pulse at 355 nm without added matrix. After scanning, mass spectrometry images are created for the mass of each tag. In contrast to fluorescent tags, mass tags do not exhibit mutual quenching. Sections of healthy human pancreatic tissue were imaged to visualize synaptophysin in neuroendocrine cells, and sections from human lymph node and liver invaded by metastatic melanoma to localize the cancer markers PS100 and HMB45 simultaneously. All these proteins are below the detection threshold of direct MALDI-MS imaging. This method is termed TAMSIM for TArgeted multiplex Mass Spectrometry IMaging.     

MASSyPup — an ‘Out of the Box’ solution for the analysis of mass spectrometry data

Mass spectrometry has evolved to a key technology in the areas of metabolomics and proteomics. Centralized facilities generate vast amount of data, which frequently need to be processed off‐site. Therefore, the distribution of data and software, as well as the training of personnel in the analysis of mass spectrometry data, becomes increasingly important. Thus, we created a comprehensive collection of mass spectrometry software which can be run directly from different media such as DVD or USB without local installation. MASSyPup is based on a Linux Live distribution and was complemented with programs for conversion, visualization and analysis of mass spectrometry (MS) data. A special emphasis was put on protein analysis and proteomics, encompassing the measurement of complete proteins, the identification of proteins based on Peptide Mass Fingerprints (PMF) or LC‐MS/MS data, and de novo sequencing. Another focus was directed to the study of metabolites and metabolomics, covering the detection, identification and quantification of compounds, as well as subsequent statistical analyses. Additionally, we added software for Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI), including hardware support for self‐made MSI devices. MASSyPup represents a ‘ready to work’ system for teaching or MS data analysis, but also represents an ideal platform for the distribution of MS data and the development of related software. The current Live DVD version can be downloaded free of charge from http://www.bioprocess.org/massypup . Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.