多反应离子的质子转移反应质谱

在无放射性辉光放电离子源内, 采用不同试剂气体进行放电, 为质子转移反应质谱(PTR-MS)新增了强度在10⁵ cps量级的3种反应离子NH₄⁺, NO⁺和O₂⁺, 纯度大于95%; 测试了这3种反应离子的离子-分子反应特征. 采用H₃O⁺, NH₄⁺, NO⁺和O₂⁺等4种反应离子对同分异构体丙醛/丙酮进行检测发现, H₃O⁺和NH₄⁺均不能区分的丙醛/丙酮可采用NO⁺或O₂⁺进行区分. 结果表明, 增加反应离子不仅使PTR-MS的可检测有机物范围不再局限于质子亲和势(PA)大于H₂O的有机物, 还提高了PTR-MS区分同分异构体的能力.     

Proton transfer reaction ion trap mass spectrometer

Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry is a relatively new field that has attracted a great deal of interest in the last few years. This technique uses H(3)O(+) as a chemical ionization (CI) reagent to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the parts per billion by volume (ppbv) to parts per trillion by volume (pptv) range. Mass spectra acquired with a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) are simple because proton transfer chemical ionization is "soft" and results in little or no fragmentation. Unfortunately, peak identification can still be difficult due to isobaric interferences. A possible solution to this problem is to couple the PTR drift tube to an ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS). The use of an ITMS is appealing because of its ability to perform MS/MS and possibly distinguish between isomers and other isobars. Additionally, the ITMS duty cycle is much higher than that of a linear quadrupole so faster data acquisition rates are possible that will allow for detection of multiple compounds. Here we present the first results from a proton transfer reaction ion trap mass spectrometer (PTR-ITMS). The aim of this study was to investigate ion injection and storage efficiency of a simple prototype instrument in order to estimate possible detection limits of a second-generation instrument. Using this prototype a detection limit of 100 ppbv was demonstrated. Modifications are suggested that will enable further reduction in detection limits to the low-ppbv to high-pptv range. Furthermore, the applicability of MS/MS in differentiating between isobaric species was determined. MS/MS spectra of the isobaric compounds methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and methacrolein (MACR) are presented and show fragments of different mass making differentiation possible, even when a mixture of both species is present in the same sample. However, MS/MS spectra of acetone and propanal produce fragments with the same molecular masses but with different intensity ratios. This allows quantitative distinction only if one species is predominant. Fragmentation mechanisms are proposed to explain the results.     

Quantitatively resolving mixtures of isobaric compounds using chemical ionization mass spectrometry by modulating the reactant ion composition

Acrolein (C(3)H(4)O) and 1-butene (C(4)H(8)) can both be individually detected by proton transfer chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CI-MS). However, because these compounds are isobaric, mixtures of these two compounds cannot be resolved since both compounds react with H(3)O(+) via a proton-transfer reaction to form a protonated molecule that is detected at a nominal mass-to-charge ratio of 57 (m/z 57). While both compounds react with H(3)O(+) only acrolein reacts to any significant extent with H(3)O(+)(H(2)O). Recognizing that the electrical potential applied to a drift tube reaction mass spectrometer provides a simple and effective means for varying the relative intensity of the H(3)O(+) and H(3)O(+)(H(2)O) reactant ions we have developed a method whereby we make use of this reactivity difference to resolve mixtures of these two compounds. We demonstrate a technique where the individual contributions of acrolein and 1-butene within a mixture can be quantitatively resolved by systematically changing the reagent ion from H(3)O(+) to H(3)O(+)(H(2)O) through control of the electric potential applied to the drift tube reaction region of a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer.     

质子转移反应质谱用于痕量挥发性有机化合物的在线分析

质子转移反应质谱(PTR-MS)是一种化学电离源质谱技术,专门用于痕量挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)实时在线检测.此技术利用H3O-作化学电离源试剂离子与作为质子接受体的VOCs发生质子转移反应.大气中的O2,N1,CO2等主要成分由于其质子亲和势低于H2O,而不与H3O发生质子转移反应,因此可在大气环境下检测痕量VOC...     

Development of a SIMION-Simulated Ion Funnel Tube for Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry

Because the optimum working pressure of ion funnel (IF) is very close to the typical operating pressure of a traditional drift tube for proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), it is possible to develop an IF drift tube for PTR-MS to improve the sensitivity. In this study, an ion funnel capable of functioning as a drift tube in a PTR-MS system was designed and studied by computer simulation. To optimize the geometrical and electrical parameters of the ion funnel, five ion funnel configurations were constructed. The merits and features of the respective ion funnels were evaluated, and the ion transmission characteristics were investigated and analyzed. An optimized ion funnel model was compared against the typical traditional drift tube that was used in PTR-MS for ion transmission, and it was found that the ion traveling trajectories in the ion funnel and traditional drift tube had different shapes and ion transmission efficiencies. Preliminary investigations revealed that this ion funnel improved the ion transmission efficiency by at least 10 times. The simulation and experiment results are helpful in guiding the design of an improved ion funnel to develop a PTR-MS system with higher sensitivity.     

Differentiation of isomeric compounds by two-stage proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry

We investigated a two-stage ion source for proton transfer reaction (PTR) ionization to achieve more selective mass spectrometric (MS) detection of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than that achieved with commonly used PTR-MS instruments, which are based on single-step PTR ionization with H3O+. The two-stage PTR ion source generated reagent ions other than H3O+ by an initial PTR between H3O+ and a selected VOC, and then a second PTR ionization occurred only for VOCs with proton affinities larger than the affinity of the reagent VOC. Acetone and acetonitrile were useful as reagent VOCs because they provided dominant peaks as a protonated form. Using two-stage PTR-MS, we differentiated isomeric VOCs (for example, ethyl acetate and 1,4-dioxane) by means of differences in their proton affinities; protonated acetone formed the [M + H]+ ion from ethyl acetate but not from 1,4-dioxane. The PTR-MS-derived concentrations agreed quantitatively with those independently determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) at parts per million by volume (ppmv) levels. In addition, interfering fragment ions formed from alkyl benzenes at m/z 79 (C6H7+) could be distinguished from the m/z 79 ion arising from protonation of benzene, and therefore this method would prevent overestimation of benzene concentrations in air samples in which both benzene and alkyl benzenes are present. This two-stage PTR ionization may be useful for distinguishing various isomeric species, including aldehydes and ketones, if appropriate reagent ions are selected.     

A novel discharge source of hydronium ions for proton transfer reaction ionization: design, characterization, and performance

A novel ion source based on direct current (d.c.) discharge has been developed for proton transfer reaction ionization operated at relatively high ion drift tube pressure. The shape and geometry of the ion source are designed to maximize overall ion intensity and to minimize interference from sample air. The initial performance of the technique, including speciation and intensity of reagent ions, their stability, and the impact of artifact signals, is evaluated by means of a proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOFMS) newly built in our laboratory. Intensities of the hydronium (H(3)O(+)) ions are typically (5-7) x 10(5) counts for a 1-min integration time with a duty cycle of approximately 1%. The fluctuations of the ion signals over a period of hours are within 4%. Although the formation of artifact ions from sample air (NO(+) and O(2) (+)), which react with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and subsequently cause fragmentation, is observed as background signals in addition to hydronium and mono- and di-hydrate H(3)O(+) ions, intensities of both NO(+) and O(2) (+) ions are only approximately 0.5% of those of H(3)O(+) ions. Using our PTR-TOFMS system at a drift tube pressure of approximately 5 Torr, the detection sensitivities are significantly improved and the detection limits for propene, acetaldehyde, acetone, isoprene, benzene, toluene, and p-xylene are estimated to be at the sub-ppbv level for 1-min integration.     

Thermochemical properties of the ammonia-water ionized dimer probed by ion-molecule reactions

The thermochemical properties of some small clusters such as the (H2O)2*+ dimer have already been investigated by both experimental and theoretical methods. The recent method to selectively prepare the ammonia-water ionized dimer [NH3, H2O]*+ (and not its proton transfer isomer [NH4+, OH*]) allowed us to study its chemical reactivity. This study focuses on the charge and proton transfer pathways: Ion-molecule reactions in the cell of an FT-ICR mass spectrometer were carried out with a range of organic compounds. Examination of the reactivity of the [NH3, H2O]*+ ionized dimer versus ionization energy and proton affinity of the neutral reagents shows a threshold in the reactivity in both instances. This leads to a bracketing of thermochemical properties related to the dimer. From these experiments and in agreement with ab initio calculations, the adiabatic recombination energy of the [NH3, H2O]*+ dimer was evaluated at -9.38 +/- 0.04 eV. The proton affinity bracketing required the reevaluation of two reference gas-phase basicity values. The results, in good agreement with the calculation, lead to an evaluation of the proton affinity of the [NH2*, H2O] dimer at 204.4 +/- 0.9 kcal mol(-1). These two experimental values are respectively related to the ionization energy of NH3*+ and to the proton affinity of NH2* by the difference in single water molecule solvation energies of ionized ammonia, of neutral ammonia, and of the NH2* radical.     

Liquid chromatography with dual parallel mass spectrometry and (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for analysis of sphingomyelin and dihydrosphingomyelin. I. Bovine brain and chicken egg yolk

Liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS), in parallel, was used for detection of bovine brain and chicken egg sphingolipids (SLs). APCI-MS mass spectra exhibited mostly ceramide-like fragment ions, [Cer-H(2)O+H](+) and [Cer-2H(2)O+H](+), whereas ESI-MS produced mostly intact protonated molecules, [M+H](+). APCI-MS/MS and MS(3) were used to differentiate between isobaric SLs. APCI-MS/MS mass spectra exhibited long-chain base related fragments, [LCB](+) and [LCB-H(2)O](+), that allowed the sphinganine backbone to be differentiated from the sphingenine backbone. Fragments formed from the fatty amide chain, [FA(long)](+) and [FA(short)](+), allowed an overall fatty acid composition to be determined. The presence of both dihydrosphingomyelin (DSM) and sphingomyelin (SM) sphingolipid classes was confirmed using (31)P NMR spectroscopy.     

Quantification of hydroxycarbonyls from OH-isoprene reactions

Hydroxycarbonyls arising from OH-initiated reactions of isoprene have been quantified by the technique of a flow reactor coupled to proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) detection. The yields of C5- and C4-hydroxycarbonyls are (19.3 +/- 6.1)% and (3.3 +/- 1.6)%, respectively, measured at a flow tube pressure of about 100 Torr and at a temperature of 298 +/- 2 K. A yield of (8.4 +/- 2.4)% is obtained for the unsaturated carbonyl C5H8O, confirming that internal OH addition represents the minor channel in the initial OH-isoprene reaction. The results show that those carbonyl compounds account for the most previously unquantified carbon, enabling the isoprene carbon closure. The study also reveals novel aspects of the delta-hydroxyalkoxy radical degradation mechanism, which is essential for modeling tropospheric O3 formation. In addition, this work demonstrates the application of PTR-MS for quantification of products of hydrocarbon reactions, which should have profound impacts on elucidation of the chemistry of atmospheric anthropogenic and biogenic hydrocarbons.     

Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry for the sensitive and rapid real-time detection of solid high explosives in air and water

Relying on recent developments in proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), we demonstrate here the capability of detecting solid explosives in air and in water in real time. Two different proton transfer reaction mass spectrometers have been used in this study. One is the PTR-TOF 8000, which has an enhanced mass resolution (m/Δm up to 8,000) and high sensitivity (~50 cps/ppbv). The second is the high-sensitivity PTR-MS, which has an improved limit of detection of about several hundreds of parts per quadrillion by volume and is coupled with a direct aqueous injection device. These instruments have been successfully used to identify and monitor the solid explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by analysing on the one hand the headspace above small quantities of samples at room temperature and from trace quantities not visible to the naked eye placed on surfaces (also demonstrating the usefulness of a simple pre-concentration and thermal desorption technique) and by analysing on the other hand trace compounds in water down to a level of about 100 pptw. The ability to identify even minute amounts of threat compounds, such as explosives, particularly within a complex chemical environment, is vital to the fight against crime and terrorism and is of paramount importance for the appraisal of the fate and harmful effects of TNT at marine ammunition dumping sites and the detection of buried antipersonnel and antitank landmines.

潮湿空气微波放电离子形成动力学

利用微波放电电离质谱装置，通过水蒸气与空气混合气体（潮湿空气）的微波放电，同时获得了化学电离质谱探测技术中常用的三种重要母体离子H3O＋、NO＋和.结合潮湿空气中主要成分N2、O2以及水蒸气各自微波放电后的质谱探测结果，对潮湿空气微波放电后上述三种离子产生的动力学过程进行了分析，并给出了各种离子的形成机制.这些离子 分子反应过程在计算机模拟中得到了进一步的证实.     

An online ultra-high sensitivity Proton-transfer-reaction mass-spectrometer combined with switchable reagent ion capability (PTR + SRI − MS)

Proton-transfer-reaction mass-spectrometry (PTR-MS) developed in the 1990s is used today in a wide range of scientific and technical fields. PTR-MS allows for real-time, online determination of absolute concentrations of volatile (organic) compounds (VOCs) in air with high sensitivity (into the low pptv range) and a fast response time (in the 40–100 ms time regime). Most PTR-MS instruments employed so far use an ion source consisting of a hollow cathode (HC) discharge in water vapour which provides an intense source of proton donor H₃O⁺ ions. As the use of other ions, e.g. NO⁺ and O₂⁺, can be useful for the identification of VOCs and for the detection of VOCs with proton affinities (PA) below that of H₂O, selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) with mass selected ions has been applied in these instances. SIFT-MS suffers, however, from at least two orders lower reagent ion counts rates and therefore SIFT-MS suffers from lower sensitivity than PTR-MS.Here we report the development of a PTR-MS instrument using a modified HC ion source and drift tube design, which allows for the easy and fast switching between H₃O⁺, NO⁺ and O₂⁺ ions produced in high purity and in large quantities in this source. This instrument is capable of measuring low concentrations (with detection limits approaching the ppqv regime) of VOCs using any of the three reagent ions investigated in this study. Therefore this instrument combines the advantages of the PTR-MS technology (the superior sensitivity) with those of SIFT-MS (detection of VOCs with PAs smaller than that of the water molecule and the capability to distinguish between isomeric compounds).We will first discuss the setup of this new PTR+SRI-MS mass spectrometer instrument, its performance for aromates, aldehydes and ketones (with a sensitivity of up to nearly 1000 cps/ppbv and a detection limit of about several 100 ppqv) and finally give some examples concerning the ability to distinguish structural isomeric compounds.     

Negative ion-atmospheric pressure photoionization: Electron capture,dissociative electron capture,proton transfer,and anion attachment

To better guide the development of liquid chromatography/electron capture-atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry (LC/EC-APPI-MS) in analysis of low polarity compounds, the ionization mechanism of 19 compounds was studied using dopant assisted negative ion-APPI. Four ionization mechanisms, i.e., EC, dissociative EC, proton transfer, and anion attachment, were identified as being responsible for the ionization of the studied compounds. The mechanisms were found to sometimes compete with each other, resulting in multiple ionization products from the same molecule. However, dissociative EC and proton transfer could also combine to generate the same [M - H](-) ions. Experimental evidence suggests that O(2)(-*), which was directly observed in the APPI source, plays a key role in the formation of [M - H](-) ions by way of proton transfer. Introduction of anions more basic than O(2)(-*), i.e., C(6)H(5)CH(2)(-), into the APPI source, via addition of di-tert-butyl peroxide in the solvent and/or dopant, i.e., toluene, enhanced the deprotonation ability of negative ion-APPI. Although the use of halogenated solvents could hinder efficient EC, dissociative EC, and proton transfer of negative ion-APPI due to their EC ability, the subsequently generated halide anions promoted halide attachment to compounds that otherwise could not be efficiently ionized. With the four available ionization mechanisms, it becomes obvious that negative ion-APPI is capable of ionizing a wider range of compounds than negative ion chemical ionization (NICI), negative ion-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (negative ion-APCI) or negative ion-electrospray ionization (negative ion-ESI).     

质子转移反应质谱动态测量苯系物的亨利常数

采用动态气体提取方法, 使用自行研制的质子转移反应质谱(PTR-MS)装置, 研究了挥发性苯系物亨利常数的测量方法. 考察了苯在提取气体与水溶液中达到平衡需要的液面高度, 通过25 ℃条件下苯的亨利常数测量验证了动态气体提取方法结合质子转移反应质谱测量亨利常数的有效性, 报告了11种苯系物的亨利常数测量结果. 与常规的亨利常数测量方法相比, 本方法具有简单、快速、人为干扰少等优点.     

质子转移反应质谱在线检测痕量挥发性有机物*

质子转移反应质谱是近年来兴起的一种痕量挥发性有机物在线检测技术,它可以在秒量级的时间内获得ppt量级的探测灵敏度,已经广泛的应用在环境污染监测、医学诊断、食品成分和质量检验等领域。本文介绍了它的工作原理和装置结构,给出了一些痕量挥发性有机物检测的例子,以及作者实验室使用该技术检测挥发性有机物的初步研究结果,并对该在线检测技术的发展方向进行了展望。     

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry for on-line trace gas analysis in biology and medicine

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, (SIFT-MS), is a technique for simultaneous real-time quantification of several trace gases in air and exhaled breath. It relies on chemical ionization of the trace gas molecules in air/breath samples introduced into helium carrier gas, using H(3)O(+), NO(+) and O(2)(+) reagent (precursor ions). Reactions between the precursor ions and the trace gas molecules proceed for an accurately defined time, the precursor and product ions being detected and counted by a downstream mass spectrometer. Absolute concentrations of trace gases in single breath exhalation can be determined by SIFT-MS down to parts-per-billion (ppb) levels, obviating sample collection into bags or onto traps. Calibration using chemical standards is not required, as the concentrations are calculated using the known reaction rate constants and measured flow rates and pressures. SIFT-MS has been used for many pilot investigations in several areas of research, especially as a non-invasive breath analysis tool to investigate physiological processes in humans and animals, for clinical diagnosis and for therapeutic monitoring. Examples of the results obtained from several such studies are outlined to demonstrate the potential of SIFT-MS for trace gas analysis of air, exhaled breath and the headspace above liquids.     

Rapid white truffle headspace analysis by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry and comparison with solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The gastronomic relevance and high price of white truffle are related mainly to its unique aroma. Here we evaluate, for the first time, the possibility of characterizing in a rapid and non-destructive way the aroma of white truffles based on proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). We indicate that anonymous PTR-MS fingerprinting allows sample classification and we also compare qualitatively and quantitatively PTR-MS data with measurements made by solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography (SPME-GC) of the same samples under the same conditions. PTR-MS fragmentation data of truffle-relevant compounds are also published here for the first time. Most of the sulfur-containing compounds detected by GC and relevant for white truffle aroma have a high positive correlation with single PTR-MS peaks. Our work indicates that, after preliminary comparison with GC data, PTR-MS is a new tool for the rapid, quantitative and non-invasive characterization of white truffle by direct headspace injection without any pre-concentration.     

10-100 eV Ar+ ion induced damage to D-ribose and 2-deoxy-D-ribose molecules in condensed phase

We report that 10-100 eV Ar+ ion irradiation induces severe damage to the biologically relevant sugar molecules D-ribose and 2-deoxy-D-ribose in the condensed phase on a polycrystalline Pt substrate. Ar+ ions with kinetic energies down to 15 eV induce effective decomposition of both sugar molecules, leading to the desorption of abundant cation and anion fragments, including CH3+, C2H3+, C3H3+, H3O+, CHO+, CH3O+, C2H3O+, H-, O-, and OH-, etc. Use of isotopically labelled molecules (5- 13C D-ribose and 1-D D-ribose) reveals the site specificity for some of the fragment origins, and thus the nature of the chemical bond breaking. It is found that all of the chemical bonds in both molecules are vulnerable to ion impact at energies down to 15 eV, particularly both the endo- and exocyclic C-O bonds. In addition to molecular fragmentation, several chemical reactions are also observed. A small amount of O-/O fragments abstract hydrogen to form OH-. It is found that the formation of the H3O+ ion is related to the hydroxyl groups of the sugar molecules, and is associated with additional hydrogen loss from the parent or adjacent molecules via hydrogen abstraction or proton transfer. The formation of several other cation fragments also requires hydrogen abstraction from its parent or an adjacent molecule. These fragmentations and reactions are likely to occur in a real biomedium during ionizing radiation treatment of tumors and thus bear significant radiobiological relevance.     

A comparison of the reactions of the oxide radical anion (o−.) with simple aromatic compounds at atmospheric and at reduced pressure conditions

The reactions of oxide radical anions (O^?.) with benzene and toluene under atmospheric pressure (APCI) and conventional chemical ionization (CI) conditions were compared. Hydrogen radical (H^?) displacement by oxygen, yielding [M ? H + O]^?, was observed in both the APCI and the CI source. However, the product, [M ? 2H]^?., derived from dihydrogen radical ion (H₂ ^+.) transfer which was observed in the CI spectra, was consistently absent under APCI conditions. This behavior is rationalized in terms of the higher pressures and chemical equilibrium associated with the APCI source. In addition to the formation of the a priori expected phenoxide isomers, the reaction of O^?. with toluene to yield the [M ? H + O]^? product generates a benzyloxide anion. Tandem mass spectrometry data from collision-induced dissociation and isotopic labeling with deuterium support a reaction mechanism initiated by α hydrogen abstraction for both the H^. and the H₂ ^+. transfer pathways.