Detecting trace pesticides in real time using single particle aerosol mass spectrometry

Pesticides are toxic substances and may cause unintentional harm if improperly used. The ubiquitous nature of pesticides, with frequent use in agriculture and the household, and the potential for harm that pesticides pose to non-target organisms such as wildlife, humans, and pets, demonstrate the need for rapid and effective detection and identification of these compounds. In this study, single particle aerosol mass spectrometry (SPAMS) was used to rapidly detect compounds from four classes of pesticides commonly used in agricultural and household applications. These include permethrin (pyrethroid class), malathion and dichlorvos (organophosphate class), imidacloprid (chloronicotinyl class), and carbaryl (carbamate class). Analytical standards of each compound were diluted and aerosolized using a nebulizer to create particles for analysis in the SPAMS instrument. The resultant dual-polarity time-of-flight mass spectra were then analyzed to identify the characteristic peaks of the compound in each sample. In addition, samples of commercial products containing pesticides, a commercial insecticide spray, containing permethrin, and a canine flea collar, containing carbaryl, were analyzed in their original form using SPAMS without any significant sample preparation. The characteristic mass spectral peaks of the active pesticides in these samples were identified using the mass spectra obtained earlier from the pesticide analytical standards. By successfully identifying pesticides in analytical standards and in commercial products, it is demonstrated herein that the SPAMS system may be capable of pesticide detection in numerous environmental and agricultural situations.     

Exploring the complexity of aerosol particle properties and processes using single particle techniques

The complex interplay of processes that govern the size, composition, phase and morphology of aerosol particles in the atmosphere is challenging to understand and model. Measurements on single aerosol particles (2 to 100 μm in diameter) held in electrodynamic, optical and acoustic traps or deposited on a surface can allow the individual processes to be studied in isolation under controlled laboratory conditions. In particular, measurements can now be made of particle size with unprecedented accuracy (sub-nanometre) and over a wide range of timescales (spanning from milliseconds to many days). The physical state of a particle can be unambiguously identified and its composition and phase can be resolved with a high degree of spatial resolution. In this review, we describe the advances made in our understanding of aerosol properties and processes from measurements made of phase behaviour, hygroscopic growth, morphology, vapour pressure and the kinetics of water transport for single particles. We also show that studies of the oxidative aging of single particles, although limited in number, can allow the interplay of these properties to be investigated. We conclude by considering the contributions that single particle measurements can continue to make to our understanding of the properties and processes occurring in atmospheric aerosol.     

Current instrumentation for aerosol mass spectrometry

This review describes recently presented instrumental set-ups for aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS), most being suitable for in-situ analysis. AMS allows the analysis of atmospheric aerosol particles within a short time interval and without sample pretreatment, and it is less sensitive to artifact formation than conventional sampling and analytical techniques. Although a quantitative measure of total organic loading can be obtained with some AMS instruments, they currently give only limited information on specific compounds. When the ionization technique produces a large number of fragments for a compound, it becomes impossible to track the original compound. Moreover, at present, there is no commercially available instrument capable of quantitative analysis of chemical compounds in ambient aerosol particles with diameters of 0.003–50 μm and simultaneously offering short time resolution. We pay special attention to the technical and methodological challenges of AMS, whose benefits we demonstrate with selected applications.     

Size-resolved kinetic measurements of aluminum nanoparticle oxidation with single particle mass spectrometry

Aluminum nanoparticles are being considered as a possible fuel in advanced energetic materials application. Of considerable interest therefore is a knowledge of just how reactive these materials are, and what the effect of size on reactivity is. In this paper we describe results of size resolved oxidation rate using a recently developed quantitative single particle mass spectrometer (SPMS). Aluminum nanoparticles used were either generated by DC Arc discharge or laser ablation, or by use of commercial aluminum nanopowders. These particles were oxidized in an aerosol flow reactor in air for specified various temperatures (25-1100 degrees C), and subsequently sampled by the SPMS. The mass spectra obtained were used to quantitatively determine the elemental composition of individual particles and their size. We found that the reactivity of aluminum nanoparticles is enhanced with decreasing primary particle size. Aluminum nanoparticles produced from the DC Arc, which produced the smallest primary particle size (approximately 19 nm), were found to be the most reactive (approximately 68% aluminum nanoparticles completely oxidized to aluminum oxide at 900 degrees C). In contrast, nanopowders with primary particle size greater than approximately 50 nm were not fully oxidized even at 1100 degrees C (approximately 4%). The absolute rates observed were found to be consistent with an oxide diffusion controlled rate-limiting step. We also determined the size-dependent diffusion-limited rate constants and Arrehenius parameters (activation energy and pre-exponential factor). We found that as the particle size decreases, the rate constant increases and the activation energy decreases. This work provides a quantification of the known pyrophoric nature of fine metal particles.     

基于气溶胶质谱的二次有机气溶胶识别

二次有机气溶胶(SOA)是大气气溶胶十分重要的组成部分,也是目前人们认识最为薄弱的气溶胶组分.由于有机气溶胶化学组成的复杂性,对SOA进行有效的识别和估算一直是国际气溶胶研究领域的热点和难点问题.本研究尝试使用一种新方法来定量识别深圳冬季大气中的SOA:利用气溶胶质谱仪在线观测的高时间分辨率优势和质谱中的特征碎片离子,应用正定矩阵因子解析(PMF)模型对细粒子组分的主要来源进行解析,识别出其中的二次有机物.结果表明:深圳冬季大气细粒子中SOA浓度平均为9.41±6.33μg/m3,占总有机物质量的39.9±21.8%;相比于一次有机气溶胶(POA),SOA浓度水平变化较为平缓,体现了区域性二次污染物的特征.SOA/BC比值具有鲜明的日变化规律,且与Ox(O3+NO2)的日变化规律相似,说明SOA的生成过程显著地受控于大气光化学活性.深圳冬季大气SOA生成最活跃的时段约为9～15时,期间SOA/BC比值增长了122%.本文为研究我国大气二次有机气溶胶提供了一种新的技术方法和思路.     

Online aerosol mass spectrometry of single micrometer-sized particles containing poly(ethylene glycol)

The analysis of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-containing particles by online single particle aerosol mass spectrometers equipped with laser desorption/ionization (LDI) is reported. We demonstrate that PEG-containing particles are useful in the development of aerosol mass spectrometers because of their ease of preparation, low cost, and inherently recognizable mass spectra. Solutions containing millimolar quantities of PEGs were nebulized and, after drying, the resultant micrometer-sized PEG-containing particles were sampled. LDI (266 nm) of particles containing NaCl and PEG molecules of average molecular weight<500 Da generated mass spectra reminiscent of mass spectra of PEG collected by other mass spectrometer platforms including the characteristic distribution of positive ions (Na+ adducts) separated by the 44 m/z units of the ethylene oxide units separating each degree of polymerization. PEGs of average molecular weight>500 Da were detected from particles that also contained the tripeptide tyrosine-tyrosine-tyrosine or 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, which were added to nebulized solutions to act as matrices to assist LDI using pulsed 266 nm and 355 nm lasers, respectively. Experiments were performed on two aerosol mass spectrometers, one reflectron and one linear, that each utilize two time-of-flight mass analyzers to detect positive and negative ions created from a single particle. PEG-containing particles are currently being employed in the optimization of our bioaerosol mass spectrometers for the application of measurements of complex biological samples, including human effluents, and we recommend that the same strategies will be of great utility to the development of any online aerosol LDI mass spectrometer platform.     

An ion optics for effective ion detection in single particle mass spectrometry

Recently, we reported that significant ion loss occurs prior to detection in conventional single particle mass spectrometry. A more serious type of loss is ion-kinetic-energy-dependent loss. This leads to significant errors in the measured chemical composition of nanoparticles, especially when they have a core-shell structure. In this paper, a novel ion optics for effective detection of ions generated from a single nanoparticle is designed. Using the commercial software SIMION, the trajectories of ions launched at different speeds inside a single particle mass spectrometer are simulated. The effects of changes are investigated with different repelling plates, Einzel lens additions, and substitutions of the tube electrode between extraction and acceleration grids on the ion flight. The best design was found when assembling the trials in the present condition. It was demonstrated experimentally that the new ion optics works well not only in theory, but also in practice.     

Two-color laser desorption mass spectrometry using a single laser

A Nd: YAG laser has been used to perform IR desorption of analytes followed by UV ionization, all within the same laser pulse. At moderate laser powers, mass spectra recorded using this method are dominated by molecular ions.     

Speciation analysis in on-line aerosol mass spectrometry

Ambient aerosol particles affect both the earth's climate and human health. Both effects depend on the chemical composition of the particles including the binding state of specific elements. Modern on-line aerosol mass spectrometry is capable of measuring aerosol composition with high temporal resolution, avoiding artifacts often introduced by classical off-line methods. The two most common types of on-line aerosol mass spectrometers, laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometers (LDI-MS) and thermal desorption electron impact ionization mass spectrometers (TD-EI-MS) provide reliable information on the most common ambient inorganic and organic aerosol species with high temporal resolution. However, for less common aerosol species identification with both types of instrument is frequently associated with large uncertainties. Here, we provide an overview of the element speciation capabilities of current on-line aerosol mass spectrometry for both carbonaceous and non-carbon-containing aerosol species. We describe limitations and other issues for this type of on-line aerosol analysis.     

The identification of in vitro metabolites of bupropion using ion trap mass spectrometry

We have identified in vitro metabolites of bupropion (Wellbutrin®) from incubations with human liver S9 fraction and human liver microsomes based on molecular weight information from full scan experiments using a liquid chromatograph coupled to a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer capable of multi-stage operation (LC/MSⁿ). Preliminary experiments have shown that this instrument provides comparable sensitivity to conventional LC-coupled triple quadrupole instruments for metabolic studies, while allowing detailed structural studies using MS_n experiments and routine on-line coupling with high performance liquid chromatography via an external atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source. The LC/MS analysis of human S9 showed the presence of three isomeric monohydroxylated metabolites of bupropion. These were further characterized in a series of MS/MS experiments which gave characteristic spectra for the three isomers. A minor dihydroxylated species was also identified in the human S9 sample and further characterized in a series of MS_n experiments. Detailed structural information was generated by the use of on-line LC/MS_n type experiments. We have followed the fragmentation pathways of several molecular ion species in a series of sequential LC/MS_n experiments, extending as far as MS⁶ with scan cycle times of less than 1.5 s. Such experiments have provided insights into the structure of specific fragment ions. Additional metabolic products were identified in the rat liver microsomes incubation sample.     

Thin-layer chromatography-matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry using particle suspension matrices

Particle suspension matrices have been successfully utilized for the analysis of tetracycline antibiotics by thin-layer chromatography-matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TLC-MALDI-TOF-MS). Particles of different materials and sizes have been investigated (Co-UFP, TiN, TiO2, Graphite and Silicon) by applying particle suspensions to eluted TLC plates. Mass spectra and mass chromatograms have been recorded directly from the TLC plates. Strong cationization by sodium and potassium was obtained in the positive ion mode, with [M+Na-NH3]+ ions being the predominant signals. The TLC-MALDI mass spectra recorded from graphite suspensions showed the lowest background noise and the highest peak intensities from the range of suspension matrices studied. The mass accuracy from graphite films was improved by adding the peptide Phe-Phe to the graphite suspensions. This allowed internal recalibration of the TLC-MALDI mass spectra acquired during a run. One major potential advantage of TLC-MALDI-TOF-MS has been demonstrated in the analysis of chlortetracycline and tetracycline in a mixture of oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, tetracycline and minocycline. Examination of the TLC plate prior to MALDI analysis showed only an unresolved spot for chlortetracycline and tetracycline. However by investigation of the MALDI mass spectra and plotting of single ion chromatograms separate peaks for chlortetracycline and tetracycline could be obtained.     

Towards an integrated optical single aerosol particle lab

We present a manipulation and characterization system for single airborne particles which is integrated onto a microscope slide. Trapped particles are manipulated by means of radiation pressure and characterized by cavity enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Optical fibers are used to deliver the trapping laser light as well as to collect the Raman scattered light, allowing for a flexible usage of the device. The system features a sample chamber which is separated from an aerosol-flooded injection chamber by means of a light guiding glass-capillary. The coupling of this device with an aerosol optical tweezers setup to selectively load its trapping sites is demonstrated. Finally, a route towards chip-integrated handling and processing of multiple particles is shown and the first results are presented.     

Pathogen identification using mass spectrometry in the clinical microbiology laboratory

The recent application of Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight and Polymerase Chain Reaction Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry approaches to microbial identification has initiated a revolution in the clinical microbiology lab. The commercial application of these technologies to pathogen identification has only begun in the last five years, and already new potentially life-saving applications of these technologies are rapidly identifying organisms that in the past have proven notoriously difficult to identify. In this review, we will provide a brief historical perspective on how these developments arose, describe why they are being successfully applied now and provide an overview of current approaches. Using examples involving clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, a perspective on future use and developments of mass spectrometry in the identification of microbial organisms is provided.     

Inorganic mass spectrometry of solid samples

Summary In this review some recent developments in the field of inorganic mass spectrometry of solids are described with special emphasis on the actual state of understanding of the ionization processes. It concentrates on the common characteristics of methods such as spark source-, laser-, secondary ion-, inductively coupled plasma- and glow discharge mass spectrometry.     

Real-time detection of individual secondary organic aerosol particle from photooxidation of toluene using aerosol time of flight mass spectrometer

Aromatic hydrocarbons are air pollutants in urban atmosphere and mainly from anthropogenic sources, i.e., emission from automotive exhaust and productive process of industry, and they constitute an important fraction of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Photochemical ozone and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) could be formed from the photochemical proc- esses of aromatic hydrocarbons. SOA may impact visibility of air, formation of clouds, change of the climate, and human health serio…     

离子阱颗粒质谱研究进展

随着质谱技术的不断发展,对超高质量颗粒物质的分析已经成为质谱领域研究的一个重要方向.离子阱颗粒质谱(particle ion trap mass spectrometry)作为用于完整颗粒质量分析的有利工具,拓展了质谱技术在巨大颗粒物质量分析中的应用范围.本文对离子阱颗粒质谱仪器的研究进展及其在各个领域的应用进行了综述,并展望了离子阱颗粒质谱未来的发展趋势.     

Sensitive sandwich immunoassay based on single particle mode inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection

A sensitive sandwich type immunoassay has been proposed with the detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in a single particle mode (time resolved analysis). The signal induced by the flash of ions (¹⁹⁷Au⁺) due to the ionization of single Au-nanoparticle (Au-NP) label in the plasma torch can be measured by the mass spectrometer. The frequency of the transient signals is proportional to the concentration of Au-NPs labels. Characteristics of the signals obtained from Au-NPs of 20, 45 and 80 nm in diameters were discussed. The analytical figures for the determination of Au-labeled IgG using ICP-MS in conventional integral mode and single particle mode were compared in detail. Rabbit-anti-human IgG was used as a model analyte in the sandwich immunoassay. A detection limit (3σ) of 0.1 ng mL⁻¹ was obtained for rabbit-anti-human IgG after immunoreactions, with a linear range of 0.3-10 ng mL⁻¹ and a RSD of 8.1% (2.0 ng mL⁻¹). Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to spiked rabbit-anti-human IgG samples and rabbit-anti-human serum samples. The method resulted to be a highly sensitive ICP-MS based sandwich type immunoassay.     

Precise proteomic identification using mass spectrometry coupled with stable isotope labeling

Stable isotope labeling (SIL) can assist mass spectrometry to improve its specificity and throughput in protein identification, de novo sequencing, and characterization of post translational modifications. This Education article summarizes the unique characteristics of stable isotope-assisted mass spectrometry for accurate protein identification without requirements for ultrahigh mass accuracy. Some applications are discussed here to demonstrate the general experimental procedures, data interpretation, and the improvements in accuracy and throughput compared to the use of mass spectrometry alone.     

Probability-based protein identification by searching sequence databases using mass spectrometry data

Several algorithms have been described in the literature for protein identification by searching a sequence database using mass spectrometry data. In some approaches, the experimental data are peptide molecular weights from the digestion of a protein by an enzyme. Other approaches use tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data from one or more peptides. Still others combine mass data with amino acid sequence data. We present results from a new computer program, Mascot, which integrates all three types of search. The scoring algorithm is probability based, which has a number of advantages: (i) A simple rule can be used to judge whether a result is significant or not. This is particularly useful in guarding against false positives. (ii) Scores can be compared with those from other types of search, such as sequence homology. (iii) Search parameters can be readily optimised by iteration. The strengths and limitations of probability-based scoring are discussed, particularly in the context of high throughput, fully automated protein identification.