Atmospheric pressure glow discharge desorption mass spectrometry for rapid screening of pesticides in food

Flowing afterglow atmospheric pressure glow discharge tandem mass spectrometry (APGD-MS/MS) is used for the analysis of trace amounts of pesticides in fruit juices and on fruit peel. The APGD source was rebuilt after Andrade et al. (Andrade et al., Anal. Chem. 2008; 80: 2646-2653; 2654-2663) and mounted onto a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Apple, cranberry, grape and orange juices as well as fruit peel and salad leafs were spiked with aqueous solutions containing trace amounts of the pesticides alachlor, atrazine, carbendazim, carbofuran, dinoseb, isoproturon, metolachlor, metolcarb, propoxur and simazine. Best limits of determination (LODs) of pesticides in the fruit juices were achieved for metolcarb (1 microg/L in apple juice), carbofuran and dinoseb (2 microg/L in apple juice); for the analysis of apple skin best LODs were 10 pg/cm(2) of atrazine, metolcarb and propoxur which corresponds to an estimated concentration of 0.01 microg/kg apple, taking into account the surface area and the weight of the apple. The measured LODs were within or below the allowed maximum residue levels (MRLs) decreed by the European Union (1-500 microg/kg for pesticides in fruit juice and 0.01-5 microg/kg for apple skin). No sample pretreatment (extraction, pre-concentration, chromatographic separation) was necessary to analyze these pesticides by direct desorption/ionization using APGD-MS and to identify them using MS/MS. This makes APGD-MS a powerful high-throughput tool for the investigation of very low amounts of pesticides in fruit juices and on fruit peel/vegetable skin. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of solution residues by glow discharge mass spectrometry

A technique for the analysis of microliter volumes of solution by glow discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS) has been successfully demonstrated. Cathode preparation involves mixing an aliquot of the sample solution with a pure conducting powder, followed by drying and pressing before conventional GDMS analysis. The analyte signal at the 100-ppm level was observed to be stable to better than 5% for the duration of the analysis (30–45 min). Internal and external reproducibilities were better than 5%, and the ion signal intensity was linear with concentration over at least four orders of magnitude. Quantification was demonstrated by means of user-defined relative sensitivity factors. Relative standard deviations were better than 15% for the elements investigated, with no preconcentration of the analyte.     

Rapid screening of active ingredients in drugs by mass spectrometry with low-temperature plasma probe

A high-throughput method for rapid screening of active ingredients in drugs has been developed with mass spectrometry coupled to a low-temperature plasma (LTP) probe ion source. Without sample preparation or pretreatment, the active ingredients of 11 types of commercial pharmaceuticals, including hormones, antipyretic analgesics, cardiovascular, digestant, neuro-psychotherapeutic, diuretic, antithyroid, sulfa anti-inflammatory, antiparastic, sedative-hypnotics, and antibacterial, were directly desorbed/ionized and detected by a linear ion trap mass spectrometry (MS). The structures of these ingredients were elucidated by tandem MS. The analysis of 18 methyltestosterone tablets could be accomplished within 1.9 min, which allows fast detection with a speed of approximate 600 samples within 1 h. This work demonstrated that LTP probe ion source combined with MS is a high-throughput method for screening of pharmaceuticals and potentially applied to on-line quality control in pharmaceutical industry.

Comparison of dielectric barrier discharge, atmospheric pressure radiofrequency-driven glow discharge and direct analysis in real time sources for ambient mass spectrometry of acetaminophen

Three plasma-based ambient pressure ion sources were investigated; laboratory constructed dielectric barrier and rf glow discharges, as well as a commercial corona discharge (DART source). All were used to desorb and ionize a model analyte, providing sampling techniques for ambient mass spectrometry (MS). Experimental parameters were optimized to achive highest signal for acetaminophen as the analyte. Insight into the mechanisms of analyte desorption and ionization was obtained by means of emission spectrometry and ion current measurements. Desorption and ionization mechanisms for this analyte appear to be identical for all three plasma sources. Emission spectra differ only in the intensities of various lines and bands. Desorption of solid analyte requires transfer of thermal energy from the plasma source to sample surface, in the absence of which complete loss of MS response occurs. For acetaminophen, helium was the best plasma gas, providing 100- to 1000-fold higher analyte response than with argon or nitrogen. The same trend was also evident with background ions (protonated water clusters). MS analyte signal intensity correlates with the ion density (expressed as ion current) in the plasma plume and with emission intensity from excited state species in the plasma. These observations support an ionization process which occurs via proton transfer from protonated water clusters to analyte molecules.     

Multielemental characterisation of cobalt by glow discharge quadrupole mass spectrometry

Multielemental determination and the assessment of purity of cobalt metal used in the preparation of Ni-based super-alloys have been carried out by glow discharge quadrupole mass spectrometry (GD-QMS). Relative sensitivity factors (RSF) generated from certified iron matrix reference samples (NIST 663 and 664 low alloy steel pin standards) could be used for the determination of different trace element constituents of the sample. Different wet chemical procedures were also carried out for the determination of the trace constituents in the sample. The GD-QMS results are in reasonably good agreement with those obtained from wet chemical procedures, validating the use of the RSF values generated on low alloy steel standards for the computation of trace element concentrations in cobalt metal. A variety of molecular ions formed through the reaction of cobalt (matrix) with the discharge gas (argon) were also detected.     

Measurement of isotope ratios in solids by glow discharge mass spectrometry

A commercial thermion mass spectrometer has been modified for glow discharge mass spectrometry. GDMS isotope ratio measurements on osmium, uranium, and boron containing samples are compared with TIMS measurements.     

On copper diffusion in silicon measured by glow discharge mass spectrometry

Copper contamination occurs frequently in silicon for photovoltaic applications due to its very fast diffusion coupled with a low solid solubility, especially at room temperature. The combination of these properties exerts a challenge on the direct analysis of Cu bulk concentration in Si by sputtering techniques like glow discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS). This work aims at addressing the challenges in quantitative analysis of fast diffusing elements in Si matrix by GDMS. N-type, monocrystalline (Czochralski) silicon samples were intentionally contaminated with Cu after solidification and consequently annealed at 900 °C to ensure a homogeneous distribution of Cu in the bulk. The samples were quenched after annealing to control the extent of the diffusion to the surface prior to the GDMS analyses, which were carried out at different time intervals from within few minutes after cooling onward. The Cu profiles were measured by high-resolution GDMS operating in a continuous direct current mode, where the integration step length was set to ～0.5 μm over a total sputtered depth of 8–30 μm. The temperature of the samples during the GDMS analyses was also measured in order to evaluate the diffusion. The Cu contamination of n-type Si samples was observed to be highly material dependent. The practical impact of Cu out-diffusion on the calculation of the relative sensitivity factor (RSF) of Cu in Si is discussed.     

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization of fluorinated phenols in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry, and ion mobility spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-mass spectrometry (MS) for fluorinated phenols (C6H5-xFxOH Where x = 0-5) in nitrogen with Cl- as the reagent ion yielded product ions of M Cl- through ion associations or (M-H)- through proton abstractions. Proton abstraction was controllable by potentials on the orifice and first lens, suggesting that some proton abstraction occurs through collision induced dissociation (CID) in the interface region. This was proven using CID of adduct ions (M Cl-) with Q2 studies where adduct ions were dissociated to Cl- or proton abstracted to (M-H)-. The extent of proton abstraction depended upon ion energy and structure in order of calculated acidities: pentafluorophenol > tetrafluorophenol > trifluorophenol > difluorophenol. Little or no proton abstraction occurred for fluorophenol, phenol, or benzyl alcohol analogs. Ion mobility spectrometry was used to determine if proton abstraction reactions passed through an adduct intermediate with thermalized ions and mobility spectra for all chemicals were obtained from 25 to 200 degrees C. Proton abstraction from M Cl- was not observed at any temperature for phenol, monofluorophenol, or difluorophenol. Mobility spectra for trifluorophenol revealed the kinetic transformations to (M-H)- either from M Cl- or from M2 Cl- directly. Proton abstraction was the predominant reaction for tetra- and penta-fluorophenols. Consequently, the evidence suggests that proton abstraction occurs from an adduct ion where the reaction barrier is reduced with increasing acidity of the O-H bond in C6H5-xFxOH.     

Analysis of semiconducting materials by high-resolution radiofrequency glow discharge mass spectrometry

The analytical capabilities of a high-resolution mass spectrometer in combination with a 13.56 MHz glow discharge ion source for the analysis of semiconducting materials (silicon carbide and gallium arsenide) were studied. It was shown that single positively charged ions of sample material have about 10 eV higher average energy than the ions of the discharge and residual gas. Therefore effective energy separation of the ions of analyte from the ions of the discharge and residual gas was achieved by adjusting the ion transfer optics (breadth and position of energy slit), which improves the analytical capabilities of the developed method.Some analytical applications are presented to illustrate the performance of r.f. GDMS for the bulk analysis of semiconducting materials. The results of the trace element analysis of gallium arsenide and silicon carbide samples are compared with data of independent methods (LIMS, ICP-AES, SIMS).Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthdayOn leave from the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia     

Atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry of neurotransmitters

A group of five neurotransmitters with different properties was analyzed using atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS). The sensitivity of the techniques for the analytes was tested in six solvents and in positive and negative ion modes. APPI was found to be superior in sensitivity for all the compounds in both positive and negative ion modes. In positive ion mode, water/methanol/formic acid was found to be the best solvent, whereas in negative ion mode, water/methanol/ammonium hydroxide performed best. Detection limits using APPI were between 2.5-250 fmol, depending on the compound. The sensitivity was best for the neurosteroids dehydroepiandrosterone and beta-estradiol, and acetylcholine (LOD 2.5-10 fmol).     

H2/Ar direct current glow discharge mass spectrometry at constant voltage and pressure

The addition of hydrogen to a direct current (dc) - argon glow discharge (GD) coupled to a time of flight mass spectrometer has been studied using a fixed voltage between the electrodes and a fixed discharge pressure. Hydrogen contents investigated were 0.5%, 1% and 10% v/v in the argon discharge and the samples under study consisted of a copper-base, a nickel-base and an iron-base homogeneous materials. Also, the in-depth profile analysis of a tin plate was investigated. Results have shown that hydrogen addition gives rise to significant changes in the slope of the linear relationship between the electrical current and the discharge voltage. Clearly, the electrical resistance of the discharge at the typical operation voltages in the interval 600–1000 V increases with hydrogen added to pure argon.A decrease of the sputtering rates was observed the higher the hydrogen concentrations. Besides, the “reduced sputtering rates”, i.e. the sputtering rates divided by the corresponding electrical current, were also lower for the H₂/Ar discharges than for pure argon. However, the analytical ion signals observed using discharge voltages higher than 900 V turned out to be higher in a 0.5% H₂/Ar discharge than in pure argon for the copper and nickel materials. Besides, for the three samples investigated the ion yields were from 1.5 up to 3 times higher in 0.5% H₂/Ar discharges as compared to the pure argon.Finally, the effect of 0.5% H₂ addition to the Ar discharge on the in-depth profile of a tin plate has also been investigated. As compared to the use of a pure Ar GD, higher sensitivity for major and minor components of the coating were observed without loss of the relative depth resolution achieved.     

辉光放电质谱法测定钨钛合金中的微量杂质元素EI北大核心CSCD

采用辉光放电质谱法直接测定钨钛合金中的杂质元素。对放电电流、气体流量和预溅射时间等条件进行优化,用仪器内置的标准相对灵敏度因子(RSFstd)进行半定量分析。同时用已定值的钨钛合金作为标样校正仪器,获得校正后的相对灵敏度因子(RSFWTi),再应用于定量分析。结果表明,未校正测量值与参考值比值在0.5~1.6之间,相对标准偏差(RSDs)小于5%,满足半定量分析要求。经RSFWTi校正的测量值与电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测得的结果比较,相对偏差(RD)小于20%,该方法适用于合金中杂质元素定量分析。     

辉光放电质谱法测定高纯铟中痕量元素

采用辉光放电质谱法(GDMS)对高纯铟中铁、铜、铅、锌、铊、镉、锡等14种元素进行了测定,对仪器工作参数进行了优化,对预溅射过程时间的确定和质谱干扰的排除进行了讨论,结果表明,GDMS是目前具有足够灵敏度对高纯导电材料进行直接分析的有效手段。     

辉光放电质谱法测定核级石墨粉中痕量杂质

建立了直流辉光放电质谱法(DC-GDMS)测定核级石墨粉中痕量杂质元素的方法。用一定的压力将石墨粉镶嵌在高纯铟片上,形成一个直径约为5 mm的圆形石墨薄层,用铟片辅助石墨粉放电,实现了粉状样品直接检测。优化的实验条件为放电电流0.8 mA,放电电压1.2 kV,放电气体流速0.437 mL/min。用石墨粉标准样品(19J T61029)单点校准了仪器相对灵敏度因子,消除基体效应,实现15个关键杂质元素定量分析。方法检出限为5.0 ng/g,在单侧0.05显著性水平下,利用Student’s t检验,方法测定结果 t值均小于临界值,与标准值无显著性差异。相对标准偏差(RSD)均小于10%。本方法与电感耦合等离子体光谱法测定结果比较,相对误差在2.4%～17.4%之间。     

辉光放电质谱法测定高纯材料中痕量硫杂质

准确测定并控制材料中杂质元素含量是发挥高纯材料性能不可或缺的环节。辉光放电质谱法(GDMS)是准确、快速、高灵敏分析高纯材料中痕量及超痕量硫的理想方法。对GDMS分析高纯铜和镍基高温合金中痕量硫的质谱干扰进行了讨论,优化了放电电流和放电电压,采用多种标准物质对硫的相对灵敏度因子(RSF)进行了校准和验证,并与二次离子质谱法(SIMS)进行分析结果比对,验证了GDMS定量分析结果的准确性和可靠性。     

Elimination of water interference in pulsed glow discharge time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The presence of water in the discharge cell is a serious problem in glow discharge mass spectrometry. Even very small quantities of water can make considerable changes in the composition and electrical parameters of the plasma, which lead to a decrease in the signal intensity and the appearance of various cluster components. This results in a very complicated mass spectrum and significantly deteriorates the analytical performance of the method. Different approaches to solving the this problem are discussed in the paper. A multiple position interface that allows analyzing 6–10 samples without decapsulation of the discharge cell is presented in this work. It is also shown that the use of a tantalum auxiliary cathode ensures a several-order depression of the interfering components (OH⁺, OH ₂ ⁺ , OH ₃ ⁺ , ¹²C¹H ₂ ⁺ , ¹⁶O⁺, ¹²C¹H ₃ ⁺ ) because of its getter behavior. The simultaneous application of all proposed approaches ensures solving the problem of interferences in the combined hollow cathode with pulsed glow discharge to the great extent.     

Matrix effect in the analysis of drugs of abuse from urine with desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry (DAPPI-MS) and desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS)

We have studied the matrix effect within direct analysis of benzodiazepines and opioids from urine with desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) and desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry (DAPPI-MS). The urine matrix was found to affect the ionization mechanism of the opioids in DAPPI-MS favoring proton transfer over charge exchange reaction. The sensitivity for the drugs in solvent matrix was at the same level with DESI-MS and DAPPI-MS (LODs 0.05–6 μg mL⁻¹) but the decrease in sensitivity due to the urine matrix was higher with DESI (typically 20–160-fold) than with DAPPI (typically 2–15-fold) indicating better matrix tolerance of DAPPI over DESI. Also in MS/MS mode, DAPPI provided better sensitivity than DESI for the drugs in urine. The feasibility of DAPPI-MS/MS was then studied in screening the same drugs from five authentic, forensic post mortem urine samples. A reference measurement with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) (including pretreatment) revealed 16 findings from the samples, whereas with DAPPI-MS/MS after sample pretreatment, 15 findings were made. Sample pretreatment was found necessary, since only eight findings were made from the same samples untreated.     

Analysis of peptides using partial (no discharge) atmospheric pressure chemical ionization conditions with ion trap mass spectrometry

A novel approach, based on the use of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (APCI-ITMS) conditions, but without using corona discharge, was used to analyze peptides. The proposed method was applied to three standard peptides (bombesin, trityrosine and tyrosine-glycine-glycine) as well as peptides obtained through enzymatic digestion of two standard proteins (horse cytochrome c and horse myoglobin).