Analysis of organic salts by laser ionization mass spectrometry. Sulfonates,sulfates and thiosulfates

Sodium and potassium salts of organic sulfonates (1-decyl, 1-dodecyl and 1-hexadecyl), sulfates (1-hexyl, 1-decyl and 1-octadecyl) and thiosulfates (1-octyl, 1-dodecyl, 1-tetradecyl, 1-hexadecyl, benzyl and β-phenylethyl) were ionized by laser irradiation and the positive ions were analyzed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The organic ions observed were always intense and due to the molecular species plus a cation or a dimer plus a cation. The spectra of the thioslufates and sulfates show an abundance of inorganic ions in contrast to the sulfonates. The thiosulfate spectra are characterized by intense Na₃SO₃]⁺ or K₃SO₃]⁺ ions and the sulfates by intense Na₃SO₄]⁺ or K₃SO₄]⁺ ions.