常压敞开式质谱离子源发展趋势

近年来常压敞开式离子源凭借快速、原位、实时离子化样品等优势,被广泛应用于样品快速筛查、真伪鉴定、质谱成像等领域,已成为当今离子源的研究热点,受到了学术界及仪器制造、化学和生物分析等相关产业界的广泛关注。目前,该类离子源朝着克服基体效应、提高样品表面定位能力及增加离子传输距离等方向发展。本文主要介绍了可以很好解决上述问题并具有代表性的三种常压敞开式离子源:电喷雾萃取离子源(EESI)、介质阻挡放电离子源(DBDI)及空气动力辅助离子源(AFAI),重点涉及原理以及在此基础上所做的设计改进和应用进展。     

大气采样辉光放电质谱仪的设计与应用

针对某些弱极性类物质难以通过大气压离子源直接电离的问题,提出基于大气采样辉光放电电离方式实现弱极性物质在大气压下直接进样、电离和质谱分析的方法.通过在大气压接口-四极质谱仪的第一级真空中的离子透镜上施加交流高压产生放电,简化了辉光放电离子源的设计,能直接离子化大气压接口吸人的物质,离子在离子透镜的传输下进入四极杆质量分析器实现质谱分析.实验表明,本方法能电离电喷雾电离离子源和大气压化学电离离子源未能电离的弱极性物质——艾试剂,并且负离子工作模式比正离子工作模式的信号至少强40倍.     

常压敞开式离子化质谱技术研究进展

近年来,无需复杂样品前处理、且在开放环境下实现离子化的常压敞开式离子化质谱技术( Ambientionization mass spectrometry,AI - MS)的研制与应用成为质谱学领域的前沿及备受关注的研究方向.该文综述了AI离子源的基本原理、特征与应用进展,并结合笔者研制的空气动力辅助离子化(Air flow assisted ionization,AFAI)技术,介绍了气流辅助常压敞开式离子化技术的基本特点及其应用.展望了常压敞开式离子化技术的发展趋势.     

多喷嘴电喷雾阵列离子源对离子迁移谱性能的影响

采用多喷嘴电喷雾阵列作为离子迁移谱仪(IMS)的离子源以提高大气压下离子迁移谱的分析性能.12喷嘴的电喷雾阵列离子源内径为46μm,采用环形排列以提高喷雾电场的均匀度,喷嘴之间的距离为0.5 cm以克服喷嘴之间的电场屏蔽效应.测定了不同比例的甲醇作为ESI溶剂在2～ 30 μL/min流速及2.5～7 kV的喷雾电压下西地那非和苏丹红Ⅱ号的响应值及相应的信噪比.实验结果表明,在优化的条件下,多喷嘴电喷雾阵列可有效的提高ESI对溶液中水含量的容忍度,降低离子化噪音.与此同时,多喷嘴电喷雾阵列可使用更高的ESI流速.在相同的条件下,12喷嘴的电喷雾阵列离子源可提高离子化效率平均达3.8倍.     

常压电喷雾离子化的机理及应用

作为最有前景的分析仪器之一,质谱技术已在药物、食品、环境、人类健康、国家安全及相关领域展现出广阔的应用前景。不同种类的分析物具有多种特征,这为直接离子化及质谱分析增加了难度。常压敞开式离子源是近年来新兴的一种离子源,这类离子源具有无需复杂的样品前处理、操作方便、快速、非破坏性、灵敏度及特异性好、能实现实时原位、高通量分析等特点。本文综述了基于电喷雾离子化(ESI)原理的各种离子源的电离机理、特征及应用,展望了常压敞开式离子源的发展趋势。     

表面等离子体共振-质谱联用技术研究进展

目前,表面等离子体共振(Surface Plasmon Resonance,SPR)与质谱法(Mass Spectrometry,MS)联用主要使用基质辅助激光解吸离子化(Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization,MALDI)和电喷雾离子化(Electrospray Ionization,ESI)来实现样品的离子化,近期也出现了利用敞开式离子化、传感芯片直接电喷雾离子化等方法实现SPR-MS联用的报道。本文将从以上几个方面出发,以联用接口方法为核心,总结概述SPR-MS联用的研究进展。     

双路独立可调离子源用于分子质量的准确测定

研制了一种可移动的大气环境电喷雾离子化源, 用其构建了位置可调的双路离子源, 能分路、同时注入待测样品与标准. 将其与四极杆-飞行时间( Q-TOF)质谱联用进行研究, 证明其能独立、动态调节待测样品和标准的质谱信号或峰高比例, 适于有限样品质量的准确测定, 质量误差一般<2×10^-6, 最大不超过5×10^-6.     

计算机辅助确定LC-MS中的分子离子的初步研究

LC-MS联用技术灵敏度高、专属性好、样品处理简单、快速,而且多级质谱能够提供丰富的化合物结构信息.同时,电喷雾离子化(ESI)是一种软电离技术,特别适合热不稳定炸药及耐热炸药的分析,有关电喷雾电离质谱对炸药的分析已有若干报道.     

电喷雾离子源原理与研究进展

电喷雾离子源(ESI)是蛋白质组学研究采用的LC-MS/MS中最常用的接口之一,其作为一种软电离技术,具有可直接测定热不稳定化合物、形成多电荷离子等特征,在蛋白质组学研究中具有独特优势.本文介绍了电喷雾离子源(ESI)的工作原理与研究进展,并对各种新型离子化方法与应用进行了系统评述.     

同轴式电化学电喷雾质谱离子源研究蒽电化学衍生十二胺

提出一种同轴式电化学电喷雾质谱离子源, 用于电化学与质谱分析在线联用. 离子源结构简单, 造价低廉, 容易制作. 离子源内的电化学反应器工作在两电极模式, 利用自制的悬浮在电喷雾高压上的无线电化学工作站控制. 使用二苯基蒽或三乙胺的乙腈溶液作为分析物, 全面测试了离子源的性能, 包括电势控制精度、电化学转化率、响应时间和抗污能力等. 测试溶液添加浓度约10 mmol·L^-1的银盐作为电解质和去极剂, 将溶液电阻降至250 Ω, 提高了在线联用的电势控制精度. 所测二苯基蒽溶液流动时的伏安曲线与常规三电极体系的循环伏安曲线基本一致. 在3.6 μL·min^-1的流速下, 离子源的响应时间不超过5 s, 三乙胺的电化学转化率高达77%. 利用此离子源, 研究了蒽的电化学衍生反应, 衍生试剂为十二胺. 蒽作为一种非极性物质, 不能为常规电喷雾质谱检测. 而利用电化学电喷雾质谱离子源, 蒽首先发生电化学氧化反应, 进而与衍生试剂作用生成各种极性物质, 被电喷雾质谱检测. 依据质谱检测到的主要反应产物的相对分子质量与结构提出了衍生反应的机理, 有助于理解蒽的复杂电化学行为.     

Air flow assisted ionization for remote sampling of ambient mass spectrometry and its application

Ambient ionization methods are an important research area in mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Under ambient conditions, the gas flow and atmospheric pressure significantly affect the transfer and focusing of ions. The design and implementation of air flow assisted ionization (AFAI) as a novel and effective, remote sampling method for ambient mass spectrometry are described herein. AFAI benefits from a high extracting air flow rate. A systematic investigation of the extracting air flow in the AFAI system has been carried out, and it has been demonstrated not only that it plays a role in the effective capture and remote transport of charged droplets, but also that it promotes desolvation and ion formation, and even prevents ion fragmentation during the ionization process. Moreover, the sensitivity of remote sampling ambient MS analysis was improved significantly by the AFAI method. Highly polar and nonpolar molecules, including dyes, pharmaceutical samples, explosives, drugs of abuse, protein and volatile compounds, have been successfully analyzed using AFAI-MS. The successful application of the technique to residue detection on fingers, large object analysis and remote monitoring in real time indicates its potential for the analysis of a variety of samples, especially large objects. The ability to couple this technique with most commercially available MS instruments with an API interface further enhances its broad applicability.     

Design and performance of air flow-assisted ionization imaging mass spectrometry system

The imaging mass spectrometry（IMS） technology has experienced a rapid development in recent years.A new IMS technology which is based on air flow assisted ionization（AFAI） was reported.It allows for the convenient pretreatment of the samples and can image a large area of sample in a single measurement with high sensitivity.The AFAI in DESI mode was used as the ion source in this paper.The new IMS method is named AFADESI-IMS.The adoption of assisted air flow makes the sample pretreatment easy and convenient.An optimization of the distance between the ion transport tube and MS orifice increases the sensitivity of the system.For data processing,a program based on MATLAB with the function of numerical analysis was developed.A theoretical imaging resolution of a few hundred microns can be achieved.The composite AFAI-IMS images of different target analytes were imaged with high sensitivity.A typical AFAI-IMS image of the whole-body section of a rat was obtained in a single analytical measurement.The ability to image a large area for relevant samples in a single measurement with high sensitivity and repeatability is a significant advantage.The method has enormous potentials in the MS imaging of large and complicated samples.     

等离子体常压解吸离子源质谱

近年来,常压开源质谱解吸/离子化(ambient desorption/ionization mass spectrometry)技术的开发促进了质谱分析的蓬勃发展.作为常压开源质谱技术的一大重要分支,基于等离子体的常压质谱解吸/离子化技术因无需样品预处理、无溶剂化过程、高灵敏度、高通量、能实时在线检测样品等优点,受到了学术界及仪器制造、化学和生物分析等相关产业界的广泛关注.本文从离子源的种类、原理及应用等角度对目前我国在开源质谱领域中自主研发的基于等离子体的常压离子源的研究进展进行了总结,并对此类等离子体常压离子源的发展进行了展望,重点涉及微波等离子体源、常压微辉光放电等离子体源和解吸电晕束离子源.     

Flow modulation comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with a supersonic molecular beam

A new approach of flow modulation comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC x GC-MS) with supersonic molecular beam (SMB) and a quadrupole mass analyzer is presented. Flow modulation uniquely enables GC x GC-MS to be achieved even with the limited scan speed of quadrupole MS, and its 20 ml/min column flow rate is handled, splitless, by the SMB interface. Flow modulation GC x GC-SMB-MS shares all the major benefits of GC x GC and combines them with GC-MS including: (a) increased GC separation capability; (b) improved sensitivity via narrower GC peaks; (c) improved sensitivity through reduced matrix interference and chemical noise; (d) polarity and functional group sample information via the order of elution from the second polar column. In addition, GC x GC-SMB-MS is uniquely characterized by the features of GC-MS with SMB of enhanced and trustworthy molecular ion plus isotope abundance analysis (IAA) for improved sample identification and fast fly-through ion source response time. The combination of flow modulation GC x GC with GC-MS with SMB (supersonic GC-MS) was explored with complex matrices such as diesel fuel analysis and pesticide analysis in agricultural products.     

Development of an ion mobility spectrometer for use in an atmospheric pressure ionization ion mobility spectrometer/mass spectrometer instrument for fast screening analysis

An ion mobility spectrometer that can easily be installed as an intermediate component between a commercial triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer and its original atmospheric pressure ionization (API) sources was developed. The curtain gas from the mass spectrometer is also used as the ion mobility spectrometer drift gas. The design of the ion mobility spectrometer allows reasonably fast installation (about 1 h), and thus the ion mobility spectrometer can be considered as an accessory of the mass spectrometer. The ion mobility spectrometer module can also be used as an independently operated device when equipped with a Faraday cup detector. The drift tube of the ion mobility spectrometer module consists of inlet, desolvation, drift, and extraction regions. The desolvation, drift and extraction regions are separated by ion gates. The inlet region has the shape of a stainless steel cup equipped with a small orifice. Ion mobility spectrometer drift gas is introduced through a curtain gas line from an original flange of the mass spectrometer. After passing through the drift tube, the drift gas serves as a curtain gas for the ion-sampling orifice of the ion mobility spectrometer before entering the ion source. Counterflow of the drift gas improves evaporation of the solvent from the electrosprayed sample. Drift gas is pumped away from the ion source through the original exhaust orifice of the ion source. Initial characterization of the ion mobility spectrometer device includes determination of resolving power values for a selected set of test compounds, separation of a simple mixture, and comparison of the sensitivity of the electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry (ESI-IMS/MS) mode with that of the ESI-MS mode. A resolving power of 80 was measured for 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine in a 333 V/cm drift field at room temperature and with a 0.2 ms ion gate opening time. The resolving power was shown to be dependent on drift gas flow rate for all studied ion gate opening times. Resolving power improved as the drift gas flow increased, e.g. at a 0.5 ms gate opening time, a resolving power of 31 was obtained with a 0.65 L/min flow rate and 47 with a 1.3 L/min flow rate for tetrabutylammonium iodide. The measured limits of detection with ESI-MS and with ESI-IMS/MS modes were similar, demonstrating that signal losses in the IMS device are minimal when it is operated in a continuous flow mode. Based on these preliminary results, the IMS/MS instrument is anticipated to have potential for fast screening analysis that can be applied, for example, in environmental and drug analysis.     

Supersonic gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A new gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system was designed and evaluated which we have named 'Supersonic GC/MS'. It is based on a modification of a commercially available GC/MS system to include a supersonic molecular beam (SMB) MS interface. In this system the standard electron ionization (EI) ion source was replaced with a fly-through EI ion source mounted in the path of the SMB. A hyperthermal surface ionization (HSI) ion source combined with a 90 degrees ion mirror (for the EI-produced ions) was also added, and placed inside the quadrupole mass analyzer in place of its original EI ion source. The 'Supersonic GC/MS' system requires 18 cm added bench space plus the addition of an air-cooled 60 L/s diffusion pump and a 537 L/min rotary pump. The system is user friendly since all the gas flow rates, heated zones, sampling and data analysis are performed the same way as the original system and are computer-controlled via the original software. Similar EI sensitivity was obtained as with the original system for hexachlorobenzene and octafluoronaphthalene, while improved EI detection limits were demonstrated for methyl stearate and eicosane due to the significant enhancement of their molecular ion abundances. A GC/MS detection limit of 500 ag for pyrene was demonstrated using HSI. Good supersonic expansion cooling was achieved with large alkanes, despite the use of a rotary pump at the nozzle chamber instead of a diffusion pump. High temperature GC/MS analysis was demonstrated for large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including ovalene and decacyclene (ten rings). Library searches with EI mass spectra are demonstrated, and it is explained why the enhancement of the molecular ion actually improves the library search in most cases. The analysis of large phthalate esters is also described, and the improvement obtained is shown to originate from their enhanced molecular and high mass fragment ions.     

Coupling of planar chromatography with Direct Analysis in Real Time mass spectrometry

Direct Analysis in Real Time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) is an emerging and rapidly developing area of ambient desorption ionization mass spectrometric techniques. Its coupling with planar chromatography is especially promising, as compared to other ambient desorption ionization techniques, because it does not require the use of liquids that may distort the shape of a spot by diffusion effects. In the first publications on TLC/HPTLC-DART-MS, due to the fixed, horizontally aligned supply of the gas flow from the DART ionization source to the MS inlet, the introduction of HPTLC/TLC plates as cut strips was inconvenient for quantitation, and the repeatability was very low due to the manual positioning. Recently a new version of the DART ion source was suggested, which allows adjusting the angle of the DART gas stream and the use of a motorized rail, thereby, improving highly the capabilities of TLC/HPTLC-DART-MS. This comprehensive review describes the development and analytical capabilities of TLC/HPTLC-DART-MS, and the general DART-MS perspectives for surface analysis or imaging MS.      

Classical electron ionization mass spectra in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with supersonic molecular beams

A major benefit of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with a supersonic molecular beam (SMB) interface and its fly-through ion source is the ability to obtain electron ionization of vibrationally cold molecules (cold EI), which show enhanced molecular ions. However, GC/MS with an SMB also has the flexibility to perform 'classical EI' mode of operation which provides mass spectra to mimic those in commercial 70 eV electron ionization MS libraries. Classical EI in SMB is obtained through simple reduction of the helium make-up gas flow rate, which reduces the SMB cooling efficiency; hence the vibrational temperatures of the molecules are similar to those in traditional EI ion sources. In classical EI-SMB mode, the relative abundance of the molecular ion can be tuned and, as a result, excellent identification probabilities and very good matching factors to the NIST MS library are obtained. Classical EI-SMB with the fly-through dual cage ion source has analyte sensitivity similar to that of the standard EI ion source of a basic GC/MS system. The fly-through EI ion source in combination with the SMB interface can serve for cold EI, classical EI-SMB, and cluster chemical ionization (CCI) modes of operation, all easily exchangeable through a simple and quick change (not involving hardware). Furthermore, the fly-through ion source eliminates sample scattering from the walls of the ion source, and thus it offers full sample inertness, tailing-free operation, and no ion-molecule reaction interferences. It is also robust and enables increased column flow rate capability without affecting the sensitivity.     

Possibilities for Energy Pumping in a Radio-Frequency Quadrupole by Shifted Supersonic Gas Jet. Part I: Accelerated and Excited Atom Transmission

Generation of an ion beam and its transmission into a mass analyzer is one of central problems in mass spectrometry. The use of a narrowly directed supersonic gas jet has a number of advantages in comparison with other sampling methods. The aim of this work was to confirm the declared earlier properties of the jet formed at the outlet of a cylindrical channel when the free path length of gaseous atoms at the beginning of the channel is comparable with the channel diameter. The paper describes the ability of such a supersonic jet to conserve an additional energy of jet gas atoms. A significant influence of the temperature of the gas flow on the yield of cyclohexane fragment ions was found, cyclohexane being an admixture in the noble gas jet passing through an electron ionization ion source. A possibility of obtaining a flow of metastable electronically excited atoms inside the jet is also shown. The results of the work confirm the availability of the supersonic gas jet for the design of a high efficiency ion source inside the radio-frequency quadrupole at the input of the mass analyzer.