Improved partition equilibrium model for predicting analyte response in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A previously proposed partition equilibrium model for quantitative prediction of analyte response in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is modified to yield an improved linear relationship. Analyte mass spectrometer response is modeled by a competition mechanism between analyte and background electrolytes that is based on partition equilibrium considerations. The correlation between analyte response and solution composition is described by the linear model over a wide concentration range and the improved model is shown to be valid for a wide range of experimental conditions. The behavior of an analyte in a salt solution, which could not be explained by the original model, is correctly predicted. The ion suppression effects of 16 : 0 lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) on analyte signals are attributed to a combination of competition for excess charge and reduction of total charge due to surface tension effects. In contrast to the complicated mathematical forms that comprise the original model, the simplified model described here can more easily be employed to predict analyte mass spectrometer responses for solutions containing multiple components. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of the three-phase model and headspace analysis for the facile determination of all partition/association constants for highly volatile solute–cyclodextrin–water systems

A versatile method for measuring the partition coefficients of volatile analytes with an aqueous pseudophase using headspace gas chromatography is reported. A “three-phase” model accounts for all equilibria present in the system, including the partitioning of the analyte in the gas and aqueous phases to the pseudophase. This method is applicable to a wide variety of volatile analytes and aqueous pseudophases, providing that sufficient pseudophase may be used to reduce the analyte partial pressure. Generally, the method offers good reproducibility and high sensitivity. The associations of five volatile analytes (hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, dichloromethane, and ethyl ether) with various cyclodextrins were examined. All analytes were found to partition preferentially to the cyclodextrin pseudophase compared to the aqueous phase. In addition, several analyte–cyclodextrin combinations formed insoluble complexes in solution that enhanced the extraction of the analyte from the gas and aqueous phases. Derivatization of the cyclodextrins generally decreased the extent of analyte–cyclodextrin interaction.     

Combination of a Mid-infrared Hollow Waveguide Gas Sensor with a Supported Capillary Membrane Sampler for the Detection of Organic Compounds in Water

A Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy based gas sensor for continuous analysis of liquid phase samples has been developed, coupling a short hollow waveguide (HWG) gas cell with a supported capillary membrane sampler (SCMS) probe. Passing an inert carrier gas through the thin-walled tubular silicon membrane enables the permeation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in aqueous solution and facilitates their continuous and quantitative detection in the infrared hollow fiber by multiple internal reflection spectroscopy. The sensitivity of the sensor system has been determined at the ppb (μg/L) concentration level and the response time ranges from few minutes to 30 min, depending on the analyte and the permeation properties of the sampling membrane.

The experimental set-up consists of Bruker Vector 22 FT-IR spectrometer with an externally aligned 50 cm long silica HWG coupled to the SCMS, which is immersed into a glass flask filled with analyte solution and kept under constant stirring.

Aqueous solutions of benzene, toluene, xylene isomers and chloroform were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed confirming the feasibility of this sensor approach for environmental analysis.     

Determination of polydimethylsiloxane-air partition coefficients using headspace sorptive extraction

Polydimethylsiloxane-air partition coefficients (K(PDMS-A)) were determined using direct headspace analysis and headspace sorptive extraction (HSSE) with polydimethylsiloxane-coated (PDMS) stir bars. The partition coefficients were investigated for three compounds, p-dichlorobenzene (PDCB), naphthalene and camphor, all of which sublimate at room temperature and find use as moth repellents. In order to determine the K(PDMS-A) values of these compounds, the air concentration and the concentration present on PDMS, both at equilibrium, were measured. The results indicate that PDMS-air partition coefficients are proportional to octanol-air partition coefficients. Thus, the latter could be used to estimate the extraction efficiency of PDMS for these compounds in air. Alternatively, octanol-air partition coefficients for organic compounds could be estimated from the PDMS-air partition coefficient values. As expected, the PDMS-air (or octanol-air) partition coefficient increased with decreasing temperature. Importantly, the partition coefficients determined at saturated vapor pressures were lower than the values determined at lower analyte concentrations, with the differences being greater for compounds with larger partition coefficients. Consequently, caution should be exercised when applying K(PDMS-A) values determined at high analyte concentrations to measurements at lower concentrations, especially when the partition coefficients are large.     

Determination of the solubility of inorganic salts by headspace gas chromatography

This work reports a novel method for determination of salt solubility using headspace gas chromatography. A very small amount of volatile compound (such as methanol) is added in the studied solution. Due to the molecular interaction in the solution, the vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) partitioning coefficient of the volatile species will change with different salt contents in the solution. Therefore, the concentration of volatile species in the vapor phase is proportional to the salt concentration in the liquid phase, which can be easily determined by headspace gas chromatography. Until the salt concentration in the solution is saturated, the concentration of volatile compound in the vapor phase will continue to increase further and a breakpoint will appear on the VLE curve. The solubility of the salts can be determined by the identification of the breakpoint. It was found that the measured solubility of sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate in aqueous solutions is slightly higher (about 6-7%) than those reported in the literature method. The present method can be easily applied to industrial solution systems.     

Equilibrium partition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a cloud-point extraction process

A cloud-point extraction (CPE) process using the nonionic surfactant Tergitol 15-S-7, a secondary ethoxylated alcohol, to extract selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous solutions is investigated. The CPE process is facilitated at the ambient temperature, ca. 22 degrees C, by the reduction of the cloud-point temperature of the surfactant solution by addition of sodium sulfate. It is observed that the preconcentration factor could be enhanced either by increasing the salt concentration or by decreasing the initial surfactant concentration in the micellar solution. A high preconcentration factor of about 40 was achieved at 1 wt% surfactant concentration with the addition of 0.6 M Na(2)SO(4). It is also noted that the equilibrium partition coefficients of the model PAHs are nearly independent of surfactant concentrations, up to 3 wt%, in this study. Correlations between the equilibrium partition coefficients K(p) of the PAHs and their octanol-water partition coefficients K(ow), as well as K(p) and the molar volume V(x) of these PAHs, indicate that the partition processes of the PAHs in the CPE processes are mainly governed by their hydrophobic affinities to the surfactant aggregates. Furthermore, the effect of added Na(2)SO(4) on the equilibrium partition coefficients is also studied. It is shown that addition of more Na(2)SO(4) to the surfactant solution gives more partition of the PAHs into the surfactant-rich phase.     

A method for measuring infinite-dilution partition coefficients of volatile compounds between the gas and liquid phases of aqueous systems

Vejrosta, J., Novák, J. and Jönsson, J.Å., 1982. A method for measuring infinite-dilution partition coefficients of volatile compounds between the gas and liquid phases of aqueous systems. Fluid Phase Equilibria, 8: 25–35.A method has been developed for measuring the partition coefficients of volatile compounds between the gas and liquid phases of aqueous systems, based on the direct analysis of both phases. A gas mixture containing a known proportion of a volatile compound is drawn through the liquid (water) until equilibrium is established. A defined volume of the liquid phase is then withdrawn through a porous-polymer trap while maintaining the system at equilibrium. The residual water in the trap is then expelled by a stream of nitrogen gas, and the deposit remaining is thermally desorbed and analyzed by gas chromatography. This approach, together with an experimental technique for producing gas mixtures containing an accurately known concentration of hydrocarbon at low values, makes it possible to determine accurately the partition coefficients of low-solubility compounds, such as for hydrocarbons in aqueous systems, at very low solute concentrations in the system. The method has been verified by measuring the partition coefficient of hexane between the gas and liquid phases of an aqueous system at various concentrations and temperatures.     

Sample preparation optimization in wine and grapes. Dilution and sample/headspace volume equilibrium theory for headspace solid-phase microextraction

Most headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) volatile analysis methods have been developed for aqueous samples and have been either adapted or applied to complex matrices. This study examines sample/headspace equilibrium based on realistic (non-spiked) concentration levels in real complex sample matrices (grapes and wine) with a systematic multivariate statistical approach. The presence and absence of matrix effects are explained through exponential and linear relationships, respectively. The potential of over- and underestimating volatile compounds in a diluted sample is illustrated and the common dilution equation (C1V1=C2V2) is shown to not always apply to headspace volatile analysis. Additionally, sample dilution was shown to be more sensitive to matrix effects than sample/headspace volume variations with the latter showing analyte dependency. An optimum sample size of 6.9-8.6g in a 20mL vial without dilution was observed. This study shows that sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD) can be improved to a limit with a subsequent loss - an extension to existing theory. The study further illustrates that in trying to bring an analyte within linear range through sample dilution, sensitivity and LOD can be lost with a probable shift in optimum ranges and sample/headspace equilibrium.     

Determination of equilibrium constant of alkylbenzenes binding to bovine serum albumin by solid phase microextraction

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with GC has been applied to study the binding properties between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, propylbenzene and butylbenzene. Their protein-ligand equilibrium constants have been determined. The measurement of free and bound ligand concentrations in the aqueous solution was based on the equilibrium among the analyte in the fiber coating (Cf), headspace (Ch) and aqueous solution (Cs). The work demonstrated that SPME is a simple and effective method in the study of protein binding to measure the freely dissolved analyte concentration as well as the equilibrium constant. The theoretical aspect of the SPME applied to the equilibrium constant measurement in two-phase (liquid sample-fiber coating) and three-phase (liquid sample-headspace-fiber coating) systems has been thoroughly discussed. The results demonstrated that the interpretation of the calibration data is crucial to the determination of freely dissolved analyte concentration and the equilibrium constant especially when the sample volume is small. The error in the experimental system is discussed. It is demonstrated in this study that for the three-phase system the amount of the analyte partitioned in the headspace could be ignored only in certain circumstances, where the Henry's law constant and the ratio between headspace volume and sample volume are sufficiently small.     

Gas-chromatographic determination of volatile sulfur-containing impurities in industrial emissions and aqueous solutions

Procedures are developed for determining volatile sulfur-containing impurities, hydrogen sulfide, simple mercaptans, sulfides, and disulfides in air and aqueous solutions. The procedures are based on the principle’s headspace gas chromatography and equilibrium preconcentration. The procedures differ from the officially approved ones in that the operations of sampling and sample preparation to gas-chromatographic analysis considerably reduce the loss of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans unstable in humid air. The procedures provide the determination of sulfur-containing substances at the level of their maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) in industrial emissions and natural waters and the analytical range of four orders of magnitude; they can be implemented on gas chromatographs with flame ionization and flame photometric detectors, a quartz capillary column, and a thermostated gas-sampling valve.     

An extended description of the effect of detergent monomers on migration in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Three equilibria determine the interaction of a neutral analyte with the detergent in micellar electrokinetic chromatography and therefore its migration: (i) that of the free analyte in the aqueous phase with the micelle, (ii) its association with free detergent monomers in the aqueous phase, and (iii) the partition of the associate of analyte and monomer between the aqueous solution and the micelle. For the first equilibrium, non-stoichiometric partitioning between two phases is preferred in the present work over the assumption of complex formation between one molecule of the analyte with one micelle. The second equilibrium is described by the formation of a 1:1 associate of the analyte and monomer. In this paper, thirdly an additional equilibrium is introduced, namely, the distribution of the analyte-monomer associate between the aqueous and the micelle phase; it is expressed by the according partition coefficient. The three equilibrium constants are interrelated. Mobility data for a lipophilic fluorescent compound and a series of n-alkylphenones (differing in chain length) were measured as a function of the SDS concentration below and above the critical micellar concentration. Curve fitting enabled the derivation of the equilibrium constants. It was found that the association constants of the analytes with the detergent monomers are between 2 and 75 M(-1). Interestingly, the partition coefficient of the analyte-monomer associate between the aqueous and micellar phase is by a factor of 5-200 larger than that of the free analyte.     

Flash Evaporation and Headspace Solid-phase Microextraction for the Analysis of the Essential Oils in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Houttuynia Cordata Thunb

We have investigated the use of flash evaporation, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and steam distillation (SD) as sample concentration and preparation techniques for the analysis of volatile constituents present in Houttuynia cordata Thunb. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Comparison studies were performed. It was found that the results obtained between Headspace solid-phase microextraction HS-SPME and SD techniques were in good agreement, Seventy-nine compounds in Houlluynia cordata Thunh were identified by MS. In flash evaporation, thirty-nine compounds were identified. Discrimination in the response for many constituents studied was not observed, which can be clearly observed in SD and HS-SPME techniques. As a conclusion, HS-SPME is a powerful tool for determining the volatile constitutes present in the Houttuynia cordata.     

固相微萃取/气相色谱-质谱法对乌梅浸膏挥发性成分的分析研究

对乌梅浸膏挥发性物质的固相微萃取条件进行了研究。运用正交实验设计,比较了不同萃取头、平衡温度及采样时间对分析结果的影响,通过气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)的分析监控,结合信息量最大原则,确定了固相微萃取的最佳条件:萃取纤维头为聚二甲基硅氧烷,平衡温度为70℃,采样时间45 min。通过GC-MS进行定性定量分析,共鉴定出38种成分,主要挥发性成分依次为糠醛(24.88%)、2-甲基-3-羟基苯甲醛(13.57%)和5-甲基糠醛(10.16%)。     

High‐resolution GC/MS studies of a light crude oil fraction

The continuous development in analytical instrumentation has brought the newly developed Orbitrap‐based gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC/MS) instrument into the forefront for the analysis of complex mixtures such as crude oil. Traditional instrumentation usually requires a choice to be made between mass resolving power or an efficient chromatographic separation, which ideally enables the distinction of structural isomers that is not possible by mass spectrometry alone. Now, these features can be combined, thus enabling a deeper understanding of the constituents of volatile samples on a molecular level. Although electron ionization is the most popular ionization method employed in GC/MS analysis, the need for softer ionization methods has led to the utilization of atmospheric pressure ionization sources. The last arrival to this family is the atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI), which was originally developed for liquid chromatography / mass spectrometry (LC/MS). With a newly developed commercial GC‐APPI interface, it is possible to extend the characterization of unknown compounds. Here, first results about the capabilities of the GC/MS instrument under high or low energy EI or APPI are reported on a volatile gas condensate. The use of different ionization energies helps matching the low abundant molecular ions to the structurally important fragment ions. A broad range of compounds from polar to medium polar were successfully detected and complementary information regarding the analyte was obtained.     

Headspace Solid-phase Microextraction–Gas Chromatographic–Mass Spectrometric Analysis of the Essential Oils of Two Traditional Chinese Medicines, Angelica pubescens and Angelica sinensis

Angelica pubescens and Angelica sinensis belong to the Umbelliferae family and both are used as traditional Chinese medicines. In the present study, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the analysis of the volatile constituents present in their roots. Eighty-seven compounds in Angelica pubescens and thirty-six compounds in Angelica sinensis were identified by GC-MS. Their relative contents were calculated by the peak area ratio. HS-SPME was compared to steam distillation (SD) by analyzing the volatile constituents of Angelica sinensis root. A good agreement between results obtained with both techniques was found. As a conclusion, HS-SPME is a powerful tool for determining the volatile constituents present in the TCMs.     

Mechanism of charging and supercharging molecules in electrospray ionization

The origin of the extent of charging and the mechanism by which multiply charged ions are formed in electrospray ionization have been hotly debated for over a decade. Many factors can affect the number of charges on an analyte ion. Here, we investigate the extent of charging of poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers (generations 3.0 and 5.0), cytochrome c, poly(ethylene glycol)s, and 1,n-diaminoalkanes formed from solutions of different composition. We demonstrate that in the absence of other factors, the surface tension of the electrospray droplet late in the desolvation process is a significant factor in determining the overall analyte charge. For poly(ethylene glycol)s, 1,n-diaminoalkanes, and poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers electrosprayed from single-component solutions, there is a clear relationship between the analyte charge and the solvent surface tension. Addition of m-nitrobenzyl alcohol (m-NBA) into electrospray solutions increases the charging when the original solution has a lower surface tension than m-NBA, but the degree of charging decreases when this compound is added to water, which has a higher surface tension. Similarly, the charging of cytochrome c ions formed from acidified denaturing solutions generally increases with increasing surface tension of the least volatile solvent. For the dendrimers investigated, there is a strong correlation between the average charge state of the dendrimer and the Rayleigh limiting charge calculated for a droplet of the same size as the analyte molecule and with the surface tension of the electrospray solvent. A bimodal charge distribution is observed for larger dendrimers formed from water/m-NBA solutions, suggesting the presence of more than one conformation in solution. A similar correlation is found between the extent of charging for 1,n-diaminoalkanes and the calculated Rayleigh limiting charge. These results provide strong evidence that multiply charged organic ions are formed by the charged residue mechanism. A significantly smaller extent of charging for both dendrimers and 1,n-diaminoalkanes would be expected if the ion evaporation mechanism played a significant role.     

Nanoporous carbon films for gas microsensors

We study nanoporous carbon (NPC) as an adsorbent coating on surface acoustic wave (SAW) chemical microsensors for a wide range of analyte gases. By use of pulsed-laser deposition in a controlled inert gas ambient, NPC grows at room temperature with negligible residual stress and, hence, can coat most surfaces to any desired thickness. Acetone adsorption isotherms for NPC-coated SAW devices with mass density ranging from 0.18 to 1.08 g/cm3 indicate that the device frequency response relates to NPC density. Data analysis suggests the possibility of detecting acetone below parts-per-billion concentrations. We find NPC to be highly sensitive to a variety of other volatile organic and toxic industrial compounds. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that lower-density NPC has both larger and greater numbers of nanopores than higher-density NPC and that decreasing NPC density also increases the interplanar spacing between graphene sheet fragments within the ultrathin carbon wall structures. These physical differences effectively increase the available surface area for analyte gas adsorption with decreasing NPC density, with only the structural integrity of the internal NPC wall structures a limiting factor in determining the lowest useful density NPC coating.     

Influence of degree of gas saturation on multibubble sonoluminescence intensity

The influence of the degree of saturation (DOS) of a gas in a solution on the intensity of multibubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) excited by ultrasound with a frequency of 261 kHz is investigated at various ultrasonic powers and with different concentrations of ethanol, which is added as a volatile solute. At relatively low powers and a high DOS, low ethanol concentrations give higher sonoluminescence (SL) intensities than those obtained with pure water. This intensity enhancement decreases as sonication proceeds because the SL intensity for pure water increases with time, whereas it remains almost constant or decreases slightly in solutions containing ethanol. At relatively low powers, a partially degassed solution has a higher SL intensity than a solution with a high DOS for both pure water and solutions containing ethanol. The reason why the DOS decreases more when ethanol is added is considered mainly to be the accumulation of hydrocarbon products and the promotion of rectified diffusion. Adding an alcohol to a solution enhances ultrasonic degassing.     

Some new features of Direct Analysis in Real Time mass spectrometry utilizing the desorption at an angle option

The present study is a first step towards the unexplored capabilities of Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) mass spectrometry (MS) arising from the possibility of the desorption at an angle: scanning analysis of surfaces, including the coupling of thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) with DART‐MS, and a more sensitive analysis due to the preliminary concentration of analytes dissolved in large volumes of liquids on glass surfaces. In order to select the most favorable conditions for DART‐MS analysis, proper positioning of samples is important. Therefore, a simple and cheap technique for the visualization of the impact region of the DART gas stream onto a substrate was developed. A filter paper or TLC plate, previously loaded with the analyte, was immersed in a derivatization solution. On this substrate, owing to the impact of the hot DART gas, reaction of the analyte to a colored product occurred. An improved capability of detection of DART‐MS for the analysis of liquids was demonstrated by applying large volumes of model solutions of coumaphos into small glass vessels and drying these solutions prior to DART‐MS analysis under ambient conditions. This allowed the introduction of, by up to more than two orders of magnitude, increased quantities of analyte compared with the conventional DART‐MS analysis of liquids. Through this improved detectability, the capabilities of DART‐MS in trace analysis could be strengthened. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrasonic nebulization extraction-heating gas flow transfer-headspace single drop microextraction of essential oil from pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim

The ultrasonic nebulization extraction-heating gas flow transfer coupled with headspace single drop microextraction (UNE-HGFT-HS-SDME) was developed for the extraction of essential oil from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was applied to the determination of the constituents in the essential oil. The contents of the constituents from essential oil obtained by the proposed method were found to be more similar to those obtained by hydro-distillation (HD) than those obtained by ultrasonic nebulization extraction coupled with headspace single drop microextraction (UNE-HS-SDME). The heating gas flow was firstly used in the analysis of the essential oil to transfer the analytes from the headspace to the solvent microdrop. The relative standard deviations for determining the five major constituents were in the range from 1.5 to 6.7%. The proposed method is a fast, sensitive, low cost and small sample consumption method for the determination of the volatile and semivolatile constituents in the plant materials.