Accurate mass measurements of organic compounds by an internal standard method for laser desorption/electron impact fourier transform mass spectrometry

A method for determining accurate relative molecular masses and elemental compositions of several non-volatile and thermally labile organic compounds in the source cell was established. The experimental sequence included laser desorption/electron impact Fourier transform mass spectrometry and direct-mode observation over a narrow mass range. Perfluorotributylamine was used as internal calibrant. Errors were about 1 ppm.     

High-resolution mass spectrometry of large molecules in a linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer

This report describes a new high-resolution linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer that has been constructed at this institute. The instrument is used for investigations of both direct and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization of large molecules. A unique feature of this new instrument is the incorporation of a 10-cm postsource pulse-focusing region for enhancing the resolution of the detected ion signals. This technique can correct for both high initial ion translational energies and long durations of ion formation and is expected to be particularly well suited for laser desorption/ionization applications. Results of calculations are presented to illustrate the gains in mass resolution that may be expected for a variety of ion formation conditions. In addition, initial experimental results are presented that demonstrate the capability of this new instrument to produce high-resolution ion signals. Signals with mass resolutions as high as 2750 (full width at half maximum) have been obtained for both direct and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization signals.     

Laser desorption lamp ionization source for ion trap mass spectrometry

A two‐step laser desorption lamp ionization source coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer (LDLI‐ITMS) has been constructed and characterized. The pulsed infrared (IR) output of an Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) is directed to a target inside a chamber evacuated to ~15 Pa causing desorption of molecules from the target's surface. The desorbed molecules are ionized by a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lamp (filled with xenon, major wavelength at 148 nm). The resulting ions are stored and detected in a three‐dimensional quadrupole ion trap modified from a Finnigan Mat LCQ mass spectrometer operated at a pressure of ≥ 0.004 Pa. The limit of detection for desorbed coronene molecules is 1.5 pmol, which is about two orders of magnitude more sensitive than laser desorption laser ionization mass spectrometry using a fluorine excimer laser (157 nm) as the ionization source. The mass spectrum of four standard aromatic compounds (pyrene, coronene, rubrene and 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25‐octabutoxy‐29H,31H‐phthalocyanine (OPC)) shows that parent ions dominate. By increasing the infrared laser power, this instrument is capable of detecting inorganic compounds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiphoton ionization spectroscopy in surface analysis and laser desorption mass spectrometry

The application of resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy for the ultrasensitive detection of molecules originating from laser desorption experiments performed on a variety of substrates is reviewed. Laser-induced desorption from surfaces is capable of producing intact gas-phase molecules, even from polar, non-volatile, high-molecular-weight and thermally labile substances. REMPI is a highly efficient and optically selective ionization method, which, coupled with laser desorption allows the direct chemical analysis of complex mixtures, without the need for previous sample purification and separation steps. The use of REMPI spectroscopy is discussed in two contexts: (1) for the direct chemical analysis of complex mixtures, e.g., environmental samples, by laser desorption/laser postionization mass spectrometry and (2) for measurements of internal state distribution of molecules laser-desorbed from sub-monolayers surface films to gain insight into the laser desorption mechanism.Presented at the 13th International Symposium on Microchemical Techniques (ISM), held in Montreux, Switzerland, May 16–20,1994     

Laser photo-induced dissociation using tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A novel tandem time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer has been developed for studying the photo-induced dissociation of large molecules and elemental clusters. It consists of a linear first stage TOF analyser for primary mass separation and precursor ion selection, and a second orthogonal reflecting field TOF analyser for product ion analysis. The instrument is equipped with a large volume throughput molecular beam source chamber allowing the production of jet-cooled molecules and molecular clusters, as well as elemental clusters, using either a pulsed laser vaporisation source (LVS) or a pulsed are cluster ion source (PACIS). A second differentially pumped chamber can be used with effusive sources, or for infrared laser desorption of large molecules, followed by laser ionisation. These primary ions can then be irradiated with a second, high energy laser to induce photodissociation. Detailed information about the fragmentation mechanisms can be deduced from the product ion mass spectra. Preliminary results on the photo-induced dissociation (PID) of the molecule ion of aniline at 266 nm are presented. In this case the molecule ions were generated via two-photon laser ionisation at 266 nm using an effusive source. Results for the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the aniline molecule ion, using a commercial mass spectrometer equipped with an atmospheric pressure electrospray ionisation interface, are also presented. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Atmospheric pressure laser desorption/chemical ionization mass spectrometry: a new ionization method based on existing themes

We have designed and constructed an atmospheric pressure laser desorption/chemical ionization (AP-LD/CI) source that utilizes a laser pulse to desorb intact neutral molecules, followed by chemical ionization via reagent ions produced by a corona discharge. This source employs a heated capillary atmospheric pressure inlet coupled to a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer and allows sampling under normal ambient air conditions. Preliminary results demonstrate that this technique provides approximately 150-fold increase in analyte ions compared to the ion population generated by atmospheric pressure infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (AP-IR-MALDI).     

热解析低温等离子体电离源用于糯高粱中农药残留的快速筛查

本研究设计并搭建了一套热解析低温等离子体电离源(TD-LTP),与质谱联用实现了糯高粱中农药残留的快速和高灵敏检测.TD-LTP由热解析装置和低温等离子体放电源两部分组成,农药残留样品首先在热解析进样器内汽化,再由载气载带进入等离子体区域被电离.热解析进样器使LTP产生的气相等离子体与样品之间的气-固或气-液相互作用转变为气-气相互作用,大大提高了难挥发样品(如农药)的电离效率;电离源与质谱进样口之间采用同轴连接,提高了离子的利用率和传输效率.与传统的LTP电离源相比,TD-LTP电离源的灵敏度提高了8倍以上,稳定性提高了4倍.本研究对热解析低温等离子体电离源的各参数进行了优化,并与自制的矩形离子阱质谱相结合,研究了12种农药在该电离源下的特征离子.最后,将此电离源与商品化的三重四极杆质谱仪联用,对糯高粱样品中的12种农药残留进行了快速筛查,结果表明,本方法灵敏度高,可以满足食品安全国家标准规定的谷物中农药残留最大限量检测要求.     

Combined liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry: An application of 252Cf fission fragment induced desorption mass spectrometry

A ²⁵²Cf fission fragment induced desorption mass spectrometer has been coupled on-line to a high-performance liquid chromatograph. The polar effluent (MeOH? H₂O) is introduced directly into a rough vacuum stage, where a thin sample of non-volatile compounds is collected in a vacuum-drying process (<1 cm³ min^?1). The interface which spans the difference in operating pressure between the collection site and the ion source consists basically of a sample changing disk. Twelve discrete samples are collected consecutively and analysed, typically one per minute. The system has been tested for the quantitative analysis of some antitumor drugs in serum using homologous compounds as internal standards.     

On-probe pyrolysis desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry for the analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products

An on-probe pyrolyzer has been constructed and interfaced with desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry (MS) for the rapid analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products. The detection and analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products of peptides, proteins and the synthetic polymer poly(ethylene glycol) were demonstrated with this instrument. The on-probe pyrolyzer can be operated off-line or on-line with the DESI source and was interfaced with a tandem MS (MS/MS) instrument, which allowed for structure characterization of the non-volatile pyrolytic products. Advantages of this system are its simplicity and speed of analysis since the pyrolysis is performed in situ on the DESI source probe and hence, it avoids extraction steps and/or the use of matrices (e.g., as in MALDI–MS analyses).     

On-probe pyrolysis desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry for the analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products

An on-probe pyrolyzer has been constructed and interfaced with desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry (MS) for the rapid analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products. The detection and analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products of peptides, proteins and the synthetic polymer poly(ethylene glycol) were demonstrated with this instrument. The on-probe pyrolyzer can be operated off-line or on-line with the DESI source and was interfaced with a tandem MS (MS/MS) instrument, which allowed for structure characterization of the non-volatile pyrolytic products. Advantages of this system are its simplicity and speed of analysis since the pyrolysis is performed in situ on the DESI source probe and hence, it avoids extraction steps and/or the use of matrices (e.g., as in MALDI–MS analyses).     

Small molecule matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a polymer matrix

We have employed a light-absorbing electrically conductive polymer as a matrix to determine the molecular mass of small organic molecules using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. This method, which is in contrast to the usual MALDI strategy for matrix selection in which a small molecule matrix is used with a high molecular mass analyte, addresses the problem of matrix interference which limits the usefulness of MALDI-TOF for small molecule analysis. Use of negative ion mode offers advantages for this application. Using this approach, we have obtained clean molecular ion mass spectra of small organic molecules in the mass range 100-300 Da.     

Electrode‐assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A new ion source has been developed for rapid, noncontact analysis of materials at ambient conditions. The method provides desorption of analytes under ambient conditions directly from different surfaces with little or no sample preparation. The new method, termed electrode‐assisted desorption electrospray ionization (EADESI), is on the basis of the ionization of molecules on different surfaces by highly charged droplets produced on a sharp‐edged high voltage tip, and ions produced are introduced into the mass spectrometer through a capillary. The EADESI technique can be applied to various samples including amino acids, peptides, proteins, drugs and human fluids such as urine and blood. EADESI is promising for routine analyses in different fields such as forensic, environmental and material sciences. EADESI interface can be fit to a conventional ion‐trap mass spectrometer. It can be used for various types of samples with a broad mass range. EADESI can also provide real‐time analysis which is very valuable for biomedical applications. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ideal velocity focusing in a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer

A single-stage ion mirror in a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer (MS) can perform first order velocity focusing of ions initially located at a start focal plane while second order velocity focusing can be achieved using a double-stage reflectron. The situation is quite different when an ion source extraction field is taken into account. In this case which is common in any practical matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) TOF-MS a single-stage reflectron, for example, cannot perform velocity focusing at all. In this paper an exact, analytic solution for an electric field inside a one-dimensional reflectron has been found to achieve universal temporal focusing of ions having an initial velocity distribution. The general solution is valid for arbitrary electric field distributions in the upstream (from the ion source to the reflectron) and downstream (from the reflectron to an ion detector) regions and in a decelerating part of the reflectron of a reflectron TOF mass spectrometer. The results obtained are especially useful for designing MALDI reflectron TOF mass spectrometers in which the initial velocity distribution of MALDI ions is the major limiting factor for achieving high mass resolution. Using analytical expressions obtained for an arbitrary case, convenient working formulas are derived for the case of a reflectron TOF-MS with a dual-stage extraction ion source. The special case of a MALDI reflectron TOF-MS with an ion source having a low acceleration voltage (or large extraction region) is considered. The formulas derived correct the effect of the acceleration regions in a MALDI ion source and after the reflectron before detecting ions.     

A pulsed time-of-flight mass spectrometer for liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry

The design and performance of a new time-of-flight mass spectrometer is reported. The instrument combines the advantages of a pulsed drawout TOF analyzer with a liquid secondary ion source. Differences from commercially available pulsed TOF analyzers (Wiley/McLaren type) are discussed with regard to operation with ion desorption from a liquid matrix.     

Direct microanalysis by negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

In negative ion fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry, the use of a liquid matrix comprised of 15-crown-5—glycerol (1:10, v/v) enabled the molecular weight determination of small amounts of non-volatile acidic molecules. This ionization process could result in detection limits of less than one-fifth of those obtained using only glycerol as matrix. The function of the matrix as a proton acceptor is emphasized.     

Cluster calibration in mass spectrometry: laser desorption/ionization studies of atomic clusters and an application in precision mass spectrometry

For accurate mass measurements and identification of atomic and molecular species precise mass calibration is mandatory. Recent studies with laser desorption/ionization and time-of-flight analysis of cluster ion production by use of fullerene and gold targets demonstrate the generation of atomic clusters for calibration purposes. Atomic ion results from the Penning trap mass spectrometer ISOLTRAP, in which a carbon cluster ion source has recently been installed, are presented as an application in the field of precision mass spectrometry.     

Quantitative 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry for pharmaceuticals: A new approach to coupling liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry

A ²⁵²Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometer has been set up to analyse thin layers of non-volatile organic samples. Molecular and fragment ions were produced and their mass was determined by a time-of-flight measurement. A novel interface combines a high-performance liquid chromatograph with the ²⁵²Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometer in a twofold way: introducing the effluent continuously through a capillary inlet in the on-line liquid chromatography mass spectrometry mode or transferring already prepared samples through a vacuum lock into the mass spectrometer in the off-line liquid chromatography+mass spectrometry mode. The off-line mode has been applied for the quantitative analysis of pharmaceuticals in blood using stable isotope labelled standards.     

Electrospray-assisted laser desorption/ionization and tandem mass spectrometry of peptides and proteins

We have constructed an electrospray-assisted laser desorption/ionization (ELDI) source which utilizes a nitrogen laser pulse to desorb intact molecules from matrix-containing sample solution droplets, followed by electrospray ionization (ESI) post-ionization. The ELDI source is coupled to a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer and allows sampling under ambient conditions. Preliminary data showed that ELDI produces ESI-like multiply charged peptides and proteins up to 29 kDa carbonic anhydrase and 66 kDa bovine albumin from single-protein solutions, as well as from complex digest mixtures. The generated multiply charged polypeptides enable efficient tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS)-based peptide sequencing. ELDI-MS/MS of protein digests and small intact proteins was performed both by collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) and by nozzle-skimmer dissociation (NSD). ELDI-MS/MS may be a useful tool for protein sequencing analysis and top-down proteomics study, and may complement matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-based measurements.     

A constant-momentum/energy-selector time-of-flight mass spectrometer

A matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been built with an ion source that can be operated in either constant-energy or constant-momentum acceleration modes. A decreasing electric field distribution in the ion-accelerating region makes it possible to direct ions onto a space-focal plane in either modes of operation. Ions produced in the constant-momentum mode have velocities and, thus, flight times that are linearly dependent on mass and kinetic energies that are inversely dependent on mass. The linear mass dispersion doubles mass resolving power of ions accelerated with space-focusing conditions in constant-momentum mode. The mass-dependent kinetic energy is exploited to disperse ions according to mass in a simple kinetic energy filter constructed from two closely spaced, oblique ion reflectors. Focusing velocity of ions of the same mass can substantially improve ion selection for subsequent post source decay or tandem time-of-flight analyses.     

Analysis of small molecules by ultra thin-layer chromatography-atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

The feasibility of ultra thin-layer chromatography atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (UTLC-AP-MALDI-MS) has been studied in the analysis of small molecules. Because of a thinner adsorbent layer, the monolithic UTLC plates provide 10-100 times better sensitivity in MALDI analysis than conventional high performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) plates. The limits of detection down to a low picomole range are demonstrated by UTLC-AP-MALDI-MS. Other advantages of UTLC over HPTLC include faster separations and lower solvent consumption. The performances of AP-MALDI-MS and vacuum MALDI-MS have been compared in the analysis of small drug molecules directly from the UTLC plates. The desorption from the irregular surface of UTLC plates with an external AP-MALDI ion source combined with an ion trap instrument provides clearly less variation in measurements of m/z values when compared with a vacuum MALDI-time-of-flight (TOF) instrument. The performance of the UTLC-AP-MALDI-MS method has been applied successfully to the purity analysis of synthesis products produced by solid-phase parallel synthesis method.