气相过渡金属钽和钇-碳链团簇的质谱研究

Nd:YAG产生的二倍频532nm激光消融金属靶表面,同时含有3%乙炔的氦载气喷向旋转的金属靶,通过等离子体反应形成中性的气相过度金属-碳链团簇分子。经过超声膨胀,由Skimmer形成准直的分子束,进入飞行时间质谱仪的电离区,被193nm的准分子激光电离。实验发现,钽奇数碳链的过渡金属钽团簇离子信号较小,而偶数碳链的团簇离子信号较大。钇碳链观察到了YCm+(m=1～4,6)、Y2Cn+(n=2,4,6)和YCnH2+(n=2～6)的离子信号。     

Online Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry with In situ Mixing

Online matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is reported with in situ matrix/analyte aerosol mixing. The analyte and matrix were dissolved in separate solvents and pneumatically atomized into particles. Continuous flows of analyte particles and matrix droplets in nitrogen were mixed in a tee. The resulting particles were sampled using a nozzle, focused into a beam with an aerodynamic lens system, and vertically deposited continuously on a movable target. The matrix/analyte mixture was desorbed/ionized using a 266 nanometers pulsed laser at an incident angle of 45°. The nascent ions were analyzed using reflectron TOF MS. The performance of online MALDI-TOF MS was evaluated by the analysis of palmityl palmitate with the lithium salt of 2, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid as the matrix. Strong and stable MALDI signals of palmityl palmitate were obtained. The matrix solvent mixture and the analyte concentration were optimized and the results demonstrate the development of an alternative for online MALDI analysis.     

激光电离飞行时间质谱技术用于古代瓷片中元素的检测及元素成像分析

采用自制激光电离飞行时间质谱(LI-TOF-MS)及多元素成像体系,尝试分析了古瓷片中的多种元素.对一块北宋龙泉青瓷瓷片及一块仿古青瓷瓷片样品进行了表面元素分析,所得多元素半定量分析结果表明,这两种瓷片的胎体和釉面中所含元素的种类及含量存在差异;同时对一块明代青花瓷片进行表面多元素成像分析,获得Co,Mn,Fe,Ni,Ba,Ca,Mg,Na,Al,Si,P,K,Cu,Zn和Rb的元素成像图.     

Investigation of different crude oils applying thermal analysis/mass spectrometry with soft photoionisation

A variety of crude oil samples have been investigated by the combined methods of thermal analysis and mass spectrometry by means of a newly developed prototype of a thermogravimetry—single photon ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometer coupling (TG-SPI-TOFMS). Single photon ionisation (SPI) was conducted utilising a novel electron beam pumped argon excimer lamp (EBEL) as photon source, and a TOFMS with orthogonal acceleration has been applied for the detection of the mass to charge signals. The advantage of the soft SPI technique over EI for the analysis of such complex samples could be clearly demonstrated, as the aliphatic hydrocarbons present in crude oil may be detected via their respective molecular ion signals, not showing the intense fragmentation typical for EI spectra of this substance class. The application of SPI revealed furthermore two distinct decomposition regions, dominated by evaporation and pyrolysis processes, respectively. Moreover, different crude oils could be distinguished by TA/SPI mass spectra due to their unique molecular signatures.     

Analysis of sucralose and other sweeteners in water and beverage samples by liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A methodology for the chromatographic separation and analysis of three of the most popular artificial sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose) in water and beverage samples was developed using liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/TOF-MS). The sweeteners were extracted from water samples using solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges. Furthermore, several beverages were analyzed by a rapid and simple method without SPE, and the presence of the sweeteners was confirmed by accurate mass measurements below 2-ppm error. The unambiguous confirmation of the compounds was based on accurate mass measurements of the protonated molecules [M+H]⁺, their sodium adducts and their main fragment ions. Quantitation was carried out using matrix-matched standard calibration and linearity of response over 2 orders of magnitude was demonstrated (r > 0.99). A detailed fragmentation study for sucralose was carried out by time-of-flight and a characteristic spectrum fingerprint pattern was obtained for the presence of this compound in water samples. Finally, the analysis of several wastewater, surface water and groundwater samples from the US showed that sucralose can be found in the aquatic environment at concentrations up to 2.4 μg/L, thus providing a good indication of wastewater input from beverage sources.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography improves separation and identification of anabolic agents in doping control

The application of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS) for the analysis of six anabolic agents (AAs) in doping control is investigated in this work. A non-polar–polar column configuration with 0.2 μm film thickness (d_f) second dimension (²D) column was employed, offering much better spread of the components on ²D when compared to the alternative 0.1 μm d_f²D column. The proposed method was tested on the “key” AA that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had listed at the low ng mL⁻¹ levels (clenbuterol, 19-norandrosterone, epimethendiol, 17α-methyl-5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, 17α-methyl-5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol and 3′-OH-stanozolol). The compounds were spiked in a blank urine extract obtained by solid-phase extraction, hydrolysis and liquid–liquid extraction; prior to analysis they were converted to the corresponding trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives. The limit of detection (LOD) was below or equal to the minimum required performance limit (MRPL) of 2 ng mL⁻¹ defined by WADA, and the correlation coefficient was in the range from 0.995 to 0.999. The method allows choosing an ion from the full mass spectra which shows the least interference from the matrix and/or the best sensitivity; this can only be done if full scan mass spectral data are available. The advantage of GC × GC over classical one-dimensional GC (1D GC), in terms of separation efficiency and sensitivity, is demonstrated on a positive urine control sample at a concentration of 5 ng mL⁻¹. The obtained similarity to the in-house created TOFMS spectra library at this level of concentration was in the range from 822 to 932 (on the scale from 0 to 999). Since full mass spectral information are recorded, the method allows the retro-search of non-target compounds or new “designer steroids”, which cannot be detected with established GC–MS methods that use selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode.     

二甲基硫分子的共振增强多光子电离解离过程的实验研究

本文报道了在280~286.5 nm区域内,通过共振增强多光子电离-时间飞行质谱和质量选择光电离激发谱对二甲基硫分子的光电离和光解离通道进行了研究.实验结果表明,在280~286.5 nm区域内,二甲基硫分子以母体分子的电离通道为主,即首先电离生成母体离子然后母体离子再解离生成碎片离子.     

Rapid identification of traditional Chinese herbal medicine by direct analysis in real time (DART) mass spectrometry

Direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) was employed as a novel fast method to identify traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM). In order to obtain high quality mass spectra, the ionization temperature was optimized for every kind of sample. With minimal or no sample pretreatment, major TCHM components, including alkaloids, flavonoids and some ginsenosides, were directly detected within several seconds, while thirteen ginsenosides need derivatization to get good mass spectra. Pseudoginsenoside F11, compound K, protopanaxatriol (PPT) and protopanaxadiol (PPD), for the first time were detected without derivatization. Among five of eight tested Chinese herbal medicines, Rhizoma Corydalis, Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii, Arecae Semen, Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis and Scutellariae Radix, were first time identified by DART-MS. In addition, the ionization mechanisms of major herbal components, alkaloids, flavonoids and ginsenosides, were discussed in detail. Our results demonstrated that DART-MS could provide a rapid, reliable and environmental friendly method for the rapid identification of TCHM, and may be applicable to other plants.     

Ejection of Cluster Ions from a Liquid Beam of an Aniline-Propanol Solution Following Laser Photoionization

A simple technique of preparing a continuous laminar liquid flow in vacuum (liquid beam) was developed and combined with multiphoton ionization and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. This technique was applied to the study on resonance photoionization of an aniline (AN)-propanol (PrOH) solution (0.1 – 0.3 M). Binary cluster ions of aniline and propanol, AN⁺(PrOH)_n (n ≤ 1), and protonated propanol cluster ions, H⁺(PrOH)_n (n ≤ 1), were observed as product ions in the gas phase. The relative intensities of AN⁺PrOH and those of H⁺(PrOH)₂ were measured as functions of the excitation laser power and the concentration of aniline in the propanol solution. The dependences of the ion intensities on the laser power and the AN concentration are explained in terms of a Coulomb ejection model, where the ions are ejected from the surface by Coulomb repulsion exerted from neighboring ions. It is also concluded that H⁺(PrOH)_n is produced by a proton transfer reaction from an aniline ion to solvent molecules in the solution.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography for the analysis of synthetic and crude-derived jet fuels

Fully synthetic jet fuel (FSJF) produced via Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology was recently approved by the international aviation fuel authorities. To receive approval, comparison of FSJF and crude-derived fuel and blends on their qualitative and quantitative hydrocarbon composition was of utmost importance. This was performed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) in the reversed phase mode. The hydrocarbon composition of synthetic and crude-derived jet fuels is very similar and all compounds detected in the synthetic product are also present in crude-derived fuels. Quantitatively, the synthetic fuel consists of a higher degree of aliphatic branching with less than half the aromatic content of the crude-derived fuel. GC×GC analyses also indicated the presence of trace levels of hetero-atomic impurities in the crude-derived product that were absent in the synthetic product. While clay-treatment removed some of the impurities and improved the fuel stability, the crude-derived product still contained traces of cyclic and aromatic S-containing compounds afterwards. Lower level of aromatics and the absence of sulphur are some of the factors that contribute to the better fuel stability and environmental properties of the synthetic fuel. GC×GC was further applied for the analysis of products during Jet Fuel Thermal Oxidation Testing (JFTOT), which measures deposit formation of a fuel under simulated engine conditions. JFTOT showed the synthetic fuel to be much more stable than the crude-derived fuel.