离子阱质量分析器中直流电压驱动的串级质谱分析方法

本发明属于质谱分析测试技术领域,具体为离子阱质量分析器中直流电压驱动的串级质谱分析方法。本发明方法具体包括离子选择隔离、碰撞诱导解离和质量分析三个阶段。在碰撞诱导解离阶段,通过在离子阱质量分析器电极上施加非对称波形射频工作电压,使得在离子阱中心产生偏置直流电压。此偏置直流电压使得被隔离的具有一定质荷比的母体离子偏离离子阱束缚中心获得能量而被激发。被激发到高能量状态的离子,可以与与离子阱中的中性分子发生碰撞并解离,实现串级质谱分析。本发明不需要额外的直流电源,仅通过软件的控制即可实现偏置直流电压,实现时序控制,可以显著简化实验装置和方法。     

数字离子阱质谱仪低质量截止值的改进方法

本研究在实验室自制的线形数字离子阱质量分析器上,通过改变数码电源的频率扫描方式,在CID过程中,通过扫描数字束缚方波电源的频率和数字激发方波的频率实现母体解离。例如对于利血平母体离子,当将离子数字束缚方波频率从500 kHz扫描到560 kHz,可以测量到低质荷比的碎片离子,成功实现了串级质谱分析的低质量碎片离子的分析。通过与利血平三重四极质谱串级质谱分析实验结果的比较,发现可以在数字离子阱质谱仪上获得与三重四极质谱相同的串级质谱测量结果。结果表明,本方法可以用于低质量离子的测量,克服了传统离子阱质谱进行串级质谱分析的一个主要难点,显著提高数字离子阱质谱的性能。     

氦原子碰撞诱导解离表征原子团簇上小分子的吸附

研究原子团簇上小分子的吸附和反应对认识一些复杂化学过程的微观机理非常重要,为了表征小分子如何吸附在原子团簇上,我们研制了一套氦原子碰撞诱导解离串级飞行时间质谱装置.该装置配有激光溅射团簇源,团簇在快速流动管里与一氧化碳、水等小分子发生反应,产物团簇通过第一级飞行时间质谱选质后与一束氦气(He)发生碰撞,使用第二级飞行时间质谱检测碰撞碎片的分布.结果表明:一些过渡金属氧化物团簇上小分子的弱吸附、强吸附以及氧化性吸附能够通过该实验装置进行表征.     

大气环境中的水分子团簇分布和H+(H2O)n(n=4～16)离子的解离

报道了用质谱学方法首次测得的大气中各种水的团簇分布情况.表明在室内大气环境下,水主要是以几个至几十个水分子所组成的分子团簇的形式存在,且团簇的分布与空气湿度,即水在空气中的分压有关.实验中,除观测到空气中也存在前人已报道过的具有笼状结构的H+(H2O)21外,还观测到其他几种较稳定结构的水的团簇,即H+(H2O)4,H+(H2O)10和H+(H2O)15.实验中所测得的水分子团簇分布结果与使用的离子源以及质量分析器种类无关.我们还用碰撞诱导解离(CID)的方法研究了H+(H2O)n(n=4～16)离子的碰撞解离产物,结果表明,对于H+(H2O)n(n=4～16)的离子,其较稳定的离子的碰撞解离产物均为H+(H2O)n(n=4～6).我们还进一步研究了H+(H2O)10离子的碰撞解离产物与碰撞气体(即Ar气)密度的关系,得到了碰撞气体密度与碰撞解离产物分布的关系.     

气相色谱矩形离子阱质谱联用仪的设计与性能

气相色谱离子阱质谱联用仪(GC-ITMS)广泛地应用于药物分析、环境分析、农药检测和食品分析、有机化学品分析、毒品分析以及医学和生物分析等领域。离子阱质谱作为色谱的检测器,决定了色质联用仪的分析性能,包括检出限、分辨率。离子阱质量分析器从传统的双曲型3D离子阱发展到2D线性离子阱,质量歧视效应得到了极大的改善,灵敏度得到了提高。矩形离子阱作为线性离子阱,结构简单,加工和装配容易,因此应用到GCMS系统中将具有非常大的优势。介绍了矩形离子阱质谱仪的设计方案、仪器整机的性能测试、质量分辨和质量歧视效应分析,与Agilent6890组成GCMS联用仪,对实际样品进行了分析。     

阶梯电极离子阱质量分析器的结构与性能

本研究从理论上优化了一种新型结构的线型离子阱质量分析器-阶梯电极离子阱质量分析器,它是由2对阶梯电极与1对端盖电极组成。与传统平板电极矩形离子阱长阶梯电极离子阱相比,具有调节电场分布的优点,同时在几何结构设计上更接近于双曲面电极结构,但比双曲面电极更容易加工。通过改变阶梯电极结构的高度、宽度、场半径比例等几何参数,实现了对离子阱内部电场分布的优化,从而实现离子阱性能的优化。理论模拟研究结果表明,根据几何结构和电场分布优化获得的阶梯电极离子阱质量分析器(X0×Y0=9 mm×5 mm),可以在225 Da/ s 扫速下获得10150的质量分辨率。阶梯电极离子阱结构简单,分辨能力明显高于矩形离子阱。初步的实验结果表明,阶梯电极离子阱具有较好的串级质谱分析性能。     

碱金属离子对甘氨酸五肽气相解离过程的影响

为了获得更多的多肽结构信息,采用结构简单的甘氨酸五肽(简写为GGGGG或G5)作为模型,研究了碱金属离子(Li+、Na+、K+、Rb+)对甘氨酸五肽GGGGG气相解离过程的影响.将一定化学计量比的甘氨酸五肽分别和四种碱金属盐溶液混合后,静置10h,使反应达到平衡.电喷雾质谱结果表明,四种碱金属离子均可以在溶液中与甘氨酸五肽形成非共价复合物,其中主要组分为碱金属离子与G5配合比为1:1和2:1的非共价复合物.质谱碰撞诱导解离(CID)时的碰撞能量为25eV.气相碰撞诱导解离实验结果表明,在配合比为1:1的复合物中,其碎片化程度按照Li+、Na+、K+、Rb+的次序依次减小,Rb+的复合物碎裂过程中生成了不常见的c、z离子;在配合比为2:1的复合物中,其碎片化程度按照Li+、Na+、K+、Rb+的次序依次增大.与1:1的非共价复合物相比,Na+、K+、Rb+的2:1复合物的气相解离显得更加容易.除Li+外,两个碱金属离子对G5的活化能力明显较单个碱金属离子强,它们可以诱导多肽在更多位点断裂,生成更多类型的碎片离子.     

大气环境中的水分子团簇分布和H＋(H2O)n (n＝4～16)离子的解离

报道了用质谱学方法首次测得的大气中各种水的团簇分布情况. 表明在室内大气环境下, 水主要是以几个至几十个水分子所组成的分子团簇的形式存在, 且团簇的分布与空气湿度, 即水在空气中的分压有关. 实验中, 除观测到空气中也存在前人已报道过的具有笼状结构的H＋(H2O)21外, 还观测到其他几种较稳定结构的水的团簇, 即H＋(H2O)4, H＋(H2O)10和H＋(H2O)15. 实验中所测得的水分子团簇分布结果与使用的离子源以及质量分析器种类无关. 我们还用碰撞诱导解离(CID)的方法研究了H＋(H2O)n (n＝4～16)离子的碰撞解离产物, 结果表明, 对于H＋(H2O)n (n＝4～16)的离子, 其较稳定的离子的碰撞解离产物均为H＋(H2O)n (n＝4～6). 我们还进一步研究了H＋(H2O)10离子的碰撞解离产物与碰撞气体(即Ar气)密度的关系, 得到了碰撞气体密度与碰撞解离产物分布的关系.     

气相中铜催化的脱羧碘化反应

提供了一种通过电喷雾电离质谱在气相中对一类有机铜配体复合物的合成方法.通过碰撞诱导解离和分子-离子反应,在离子阱质量分析器中完成了气相中铜催化的脱羧碘化反应.羧酸（RCOOH）作为反应物最终通过碰撞诱导解离技术和分子-离子反应转化为碘代烃（RI）.在整个反应过程中,观察到了铜的价态变化,由此也对羧酸的脱羧碘化反应的反应机理进行了解释.同时,不同的羧酸和双氮配体也适用于该反应体系.该方法检测了一类有机铜复合物的气相反应活性,并对液相中铜催化的脱羧碘化反应的反应机理研究提供了重要信息.     

羟基多环芳烃的电喷雾电离离子阱串联质谱检测

采用电喷雾电离离子阱串联质谱检测了1-/2-羟基萘、 2-羟基芴、 2-/3-/4-/9-羟基菲、 6-羟基屈和3-羟基苯并[a]芘等9种不同环数的羟基多环芳烃(OH-PAHs, 2~5环), 考察了碰撞诱导解离操作参数活化值Q和相对碰撞能量对羟基多环芳烃各单体碎片离子产率的影响. 通过优化活化值Q和相对碰撞能量, 得到了3-羟基苯并[a]芘的碎片离子, 提高了1-羟基萘、 2-羟基芴、 3-/9-羟基菲和6-羟基屈碎片离子的产率, 并发现活化值Q是电喷雾电离离子阱串联质谱检测不同环数PAHs的关键参数.     

The use of static pressures of heavy gases within a quadrupole ion trap

The performance of quadrupole ion traps using argon or air as the buffer gas was evaluated and compared to the standard helium only operation. In all cases a pure buffer gas, not mixtures of gases, was investigated. Experiments were performed on a Bruker Esquire ion trap, a Finnigan LCQ, and a Finnigan ITMS for comparison. The heavier gases were found to have some advantages, particularly in the areas of sensitivity and collision-induced dissociation efficiency; however, there is a significant resolution loss due to dissociation and/or scattering of ions. Additionally, the heavier gases were found to affect ion activation and deactivation during MS/MS, influencing the product ion intensities observed. Finally, the specific quadrupole ion trap design and the ion ejection parameters were found to be crucial in the quality of the spectra obtained in the presence of heavy gases. Operation with static pressures of heavy gases can be beneficial under certain design and operating conditions of the quadrupole ion trap.     

Comparison of helium and argon as collision gases in the high energy collision-induced decomposition of MH+ ions of peptides

Collision-induced decompositions (CID) of protonated peptides were studied using a four-sector mass spectrometer. The collision gases employed were helium and argon. The CID spectra of several peptides covering the molecular mass region of 905–2465 u were recorded. These investigations established several previously unrecognized differences between the CID spectra obtained with helium and argon as collision gases. These can be summarized as follows: (1) Structurally significant and specific side chain fragmentations (d_n ^f, w_n ^f and v_n, ion types) are greatly reduced or completely missing in the CID spectra obtained with helium as a collision gas compared to those obtained with argon. (2) As the peptide molecular mass increases, argon, which is heavier than helium, is increasingly more efficient than helium for generating fragment ions.     

Pulsed helium introduction into a quadrupole ion trap for reduced collisional quenching during infrared multiphoton dissociation of electrosprayed ions

Previous infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) experiments utilizing a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer yielded limited photodissociation efficiencies. Helium buffer gas continuously infused into the analyzer region at pressures of typically 1 x 10(-3) Torr to improve ion trap performance can collisionally quench photoexcited ions during the IRMPD process. Photodissociation experiments have indicated that uncorrected pressures below 2 x 10(-5) Torr are necessary to avoid collisional deactivation of photoexcited ions. This paper describes IRMPD in the quadrupole ion trap at reduced pressures utilizing a dual-pulsed introduction of helium buffer gas incorporated into the ion trap scan function. The pulsed introduction of helium buffer gas before ion injection allows the efficient trapping of ions injected from an electrospray source and the removal of helium before laser irradiation. A second pulse of helium directly before ion detection improves the intensity of the ion signal. The use of this dual-pulsed inlet of helium for improved IRMPD is demonstrated with the carbohydrate antibiotics neomycin and erythromycin. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Real-time quantitative analysis of H2, He,O2, and Ar by quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry

The use of a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer (QITMS) for quantitative analysis of hydrogen and helium as well as of other permanent gases is demonstrated. Like commercial instruments, the customized QITMS uses mass selective instability; however, this instrument operates at a greater trapping frequency and without a buffer gas. Thus, a useable mass range from 2 to over 50 daltons (Da) is achieved. The performance of the ion trap is evaluated using part-per-million (ppm) concentrations of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, and argon mixed into a nitrogen gas stream, as outlined by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which is interested in monitoring for cryogenic fuel leaks within the Space Shuttle during launch preparations. When quantitating the four analytes, relative accuracy and precision were better than the NASA-required minimum of 10% error and 5% deviation, respectively. Limits of detection were below the NASA requirement of 25-ppm hydrogen and 100-ppm helium; those for oxygen and argon were within the same order of magnitude as the requirements. These results were achieved at a fast data recording rate, and demonstrate the utility of the QITMS as a real-time quantitative monitoring device for permanent gas analysis.     

Effects of heavy gases on the tandem mass spectra of peptide ions in the quadrupole ion trap

Heavy gases (xenon, argon, krypton, methane) have been used to improve the performance of the quadrupole ion trap when performing collision-induced dissociation on peptides. MS/MS spectra reveal that increased amounts of internal energy can be deposited into peptide ions and more structural information can be obtained. Specifically, the pulsed introduction of the heavy gases (as reported previously by Doroshenko, V. M.; Cotter, R. J.Anal. Chem. 1996, 68, 463) provides greater energy deposition without the deleterious effects that static pressures of heavy gas have on spectra. Internal energy deposition as indicated by a qualitative evaluation of MS/MS spectra shows pulsed introduction of heavy gases enables ions to obtain more internal energy than possible by using static pressures of the same heavy gases. A linear correlation is observed between the percentage of heavy gas added and the ratio of product ions used to reflect internal energy deposition. Results here also show that upon pulsed introduction of heavy gases, empirical optimization of a single frequency resonant excitation signal is no longer needed to obtain good MS/MS spectrometry efficiency. The presence of many low mass-to-charge ratio ions and the absence of side chain cleavages in the MS/MS spectra of peptides suggests that the propensity for consecutive fragmentations is increased with the pulsed introduction of heavy gases. In addition, by varying the delay time between introduction of the gas and application of the resonant excitation signal, the amount of fragmentation observed in MS/MS spectra can be changed.     

Dual buffer gases for ion manipulation in a miniature ion trap mass spectrometer with a discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface

The discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface (DAPI) has been developed to allow a direct transfer of ions from atmosphere into an ion trap mass spectrometer with minimum pumping capability. Air is introduced into the trap with ions and used as a buffer gas for the ion trap operation. In this study, a method of introducing helium as a second buffer gas was developed for a miniature mass spectrometer using a dual DAPI configuration. The buffer gas effects on the performance of a linear ion trap (LIT) with hyperbolic electrodes were characterized for ion isolation, fragmentation and a mass-selective instability scan. Significant improvement was obtained with helium for resolutions of mass analysis and ion isolation, while moderate advantage was gained with air for collision-induced dissociation. The buffer gas can be switched between air and helium for different steps within a single scan, which allows further optimization of the instrument performance for tandem mass spectrometry.     

Optimization of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight collision-induced dissociation using poly(ethylene glycol)

Details of the optimization of the collision-induced dissociation (CID) process, using a collision cell on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer, are described using poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 (PEG 1000) as a model analyte. The effects of collision gas identity (helium, air, and argon), as well as collision gas pressure, on the resulting MS/MS data were investigated. With PEG 1000, helium was found to give the best results with respect to signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. The optimum pressure for each gas was found to be in the range where the precursor ion signal was attenuated to approximately 30-50% for helium and 40-60% for argon. The effect of cation choice (Li, Na, and K) on the CID of PEG was also studied. CID spectra were produced for each, but PEG cationized with lithium was found to produce the spectra with the highest S/N ratio. The MALDI-TOF CID spectra that were generated for PEG were compared with the high-energy and low-energy MS/MS spectra obtained from a sector mass spectrometer and from a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, respectively. The results observed for PEG confirm that CID on a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer is a high-energy MS/MS technique.     

Collision gas effects in the collision-induced decomposition of protonated and cationized molecules of carbohydrate antibiotics

The collision-induced decomposition (CID) mass spectra of the protonated and cationized molecules of a number of carbohydrate antibiotics of RMM ranging from 700 to 1500 were studied by means of a four-sector mass spectrometer with a floated collision cell. Helium and argon were used as collision gases. This work illustrates that cationized rather than protonated carbohydrate antibiotics give an increased yield of high-mass ions of diagnostic value. Further, when helium is replaced by argon as collision gas, differences in the CID spectra of MH⁺ ions become apparent only for molecules of RMM > 1400 whereas for [M + Na]⁺ ions differences are observed for molecules of RMM as low as 1000. These results have been attributed to the deposition of more internal energy in the precursor ion when argon is used, resulting in increased fragmentation.     

Ion trajectory simulation for electrode configurations with arbitrary geometries

A multi-particle ion trajectory simulation program ITSIM 6.0 is described, which is capable of ion trajectory simulations for electrode configurations with arbitrary geometries. The electrode structures are input from a 3D drawing program AutoCAD and the electric field is calculated using a 3D field solver COMSOL. The program CreatePot acts as interface between the field solver and ITSIM 6.0. It converts the calculated electric field into a field array file readable by ITSIM 6.0 and ion trajectories are calculated by solving Newton's equation using Runge-Kutta integration methods. The accuracy of the field calculation is discussed for the ideal quadrupole ion trap in terms of applied mesh density. Electric fields of several different types of devices with 3D geometry are simulated, including ion transport through an ion optical system as a function of pressure. Ion spatial distributions, including the storage of positively charged ions only and simultaneous storage of positively/negatively charged ions in commercial linear ion traps with various geometries, are investigated using different trapping modes. Inelastic collisions and collision induced dissociation modeled using RRKM theory are studied, with emphasis on the fragmentation of n-butylbenzene inside an ideal quadrupole ion trap. The mass spectrum of 1,3-dichlorobenzene is simulated for the rectilinear ion trap device and good agreement is observed between the simulated and the experimental mass spectra. Collisional cooling using helium at different pressures is found to affect mass resolution in the rectilinear ion trap.     

Emission characteristics of mixed gas plasmas in low-pressure glow discharges

Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD-OES) with mixed plasma gases is reviewed. The major topic is the effect of type and content of gases added to an argon plasma on the emission characteristics as well as the excitation processes. Emphasis is placed on argon–helium, argon–oxygen, and argon–nitrogen mixed gas plasmas. Results for non-argon-matrix plasmas, such as neon–helium and nitrogen–helium mixtures, are also presented. Apart from the GD-OES, glow discharge mass spectrometry and furnace atomization plasma emission spectrometry with mixed plasma gases are also discussed.