Electron impact and hyperthermal surface ionization mass spectrometry in supersonic molecular beams

How enhanced molecular ions in Cold EI improve compound identification by the NIST library

RATIONALE

Library-based compound identification with electron ionization (EI) mass spectrometry (MS) is a well-established identification method which provides the names and structures of sample compounds up to the isomer level. The library (such as NIST) search algorithm compares different EI mass spectra in the library's database with the measured EI mass spectrum, assigning each of them a similarity score called 'Match' and an overall identification probability. Cold EI, electron ionization of vibrationally cold molecules in supersonic molecular beams, provides mass spectra with all the standard EI fragment ions combined with enhanced Molecular Ions and high-mass fragments. As a result, Cold EI mass spectra differ from those provided by standard EI and tend to yield lower matching scores. However, in most cases, library identification actually improves with Cold EI, as library identification probabilities for the correct library mass spectra increase, despite the lower matching factors.

METHODS

This research examined the way that enhanced molecular ion abundances affect library identification probability and the way that Cold EI mass spectra, which include enhanced molecular ions and high-mass fragment ions, typically improve library identification results. It involved several computer simulations, which incrementally modified the relative abundances of the various ions and analyzed the resulting mass spectra.

RESULTS

The simulation results support previous measurements, showing that while enhanced molecular ion and high-mass fragment ions lower the matching factor of the correct library compound, the matching factors of the incorrect library candidates are lowered even more, resulting in a rise in the identification probability for the correct compound.

CONCLUSIONS

This behavior which was previously observed by analyzing Cold EI mass spectra can be explained by the fact that high-mass ions, and especially the molecular ion, characterize a compound more than low-mass ions and therefore carries more weight in library search identification algorithms. These ions are uniquely abundant in Cold EI, which therefore enables enhanced compound characterization along with improved NIST library based identification.

Soft Cold EI - approaching molecular ion only with electron ionization

RATIONALE

Cold EI is defined as electron ionization of cold molecules in supersonic molecular beams (SMB). Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with Cold EI provides informative mass spectra, which combine the usual library-searchable EI fragment ions with enhanced molecular ions for improved library-based identification probabilities. However, in some cases, such as in the analysis of complex petrochemical matrices, a soft ionization method that provides only molecular ions is desirable.

METHODS

GC/MS with Cold EI was used with a fly-through ion source at selected electron energies, including at low electron energies, in an attempt to observe molecular ions alone.

RESULTS

We explored low electron energy Cold EI and found that once the sample compound is cooled by the supersonic expansion it can be reheated via reflected scattered helium atoms near the skimmer. Furthermore, once a labile molecular ion is formed it can undergo undesirable collision-induced dissociation (CID) in the same way as in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and the magnitude of such CID can be significant for labile molecular ions such as those of hydrocarbons. In order to reduce these adverse effects we reduced the helium pressure at the ion source and MS vacuum chamber by increasing the nozzle-skimmer distance. Cold EI at low electron energies was explored with a squalane isomer (C30 H62 ) and with n-C24 H50 .

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that an increased nozzle-skimmer distance resulted in a noticeable increase in the abundance ratio of molecular ions to low mass fragment ions. Consequently, Cold EI at low electron energies and a large nozzle-skimmer distance converts EI into Soft Cold EI while further approaching the ideal of a molecular ion only ionization method.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship correlation between molecular structure and the Rayleigh enantiomeric enrichment factor

It was recently demonstrated that under environmentally relevant conditions the Rayleigh equation is valid to describe the enantiomeric enrichment - conversion relationship, yielding a proportional constant called the enantiomeric enrichment factor, εER. In the present study we demonstrate a quantitative structure-activity relationship model (QSAR) that describes well the dependence of εER on molecular structure. The enantiomeric enrichment factor can be predicted by the linear Hansch model, which correlates biological activity with physicochemical properties. Enantioselective hydrolysis of sixteen derivatives of 2-(phenoxy)propionate (PPMs) have been analyzed during enzymatic degradation by lipases from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFL), Pseudomonas cepacia (PCL), and Candida rugosa (CRL). In all cases the QSAR relationships were significant with R(2) values of 0.90-0.93, and showed high predictive abilities with internal and external validations providing QLOO(2) values of 0.85-0.87 and QExt(2) values of 0.8-0.91. Moreover, it is demonstrated that this model enables differentiation between enzymes with different binding site shapes. The enantioselectivity of PFL and PCL was dictated by electronic properties, whereas the enantioselectivity of CRL was determined by lipophilicity and steric factors. The predictive ability of the QSAR model demonstrated in the present study may serve as a helpful tool in environmental studies, assisting in source tracking of unstudied chiral compounds belonging to a well-studied homologous series.

Chiral and isotope analyses for assessing the degradation of organic contaminants in the environment: Rayleigh dependence

The Rayleigh equation is frequently used to describe isotope fractionation as a function of conversion. In this article we propose to draw a parallel between isotope and enantiomeric enrichments and derive a set of conditions that allow the use of the Rayleigh approach to describe the enantiomeric enrichment-conversion dependencies. We demonstrate an implementation of the Rayleigh equation for the enantioselective enzymatic hydrolysis of Mecoprop-methyl, Dichlorprop-methyl, and dimethyl-methylsuccinate by lipases from Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas cepacia, and Candida rugosa. The data obtained for all the studied reactions gave good fits to the Rayleigh equation, with a linear regression R(2) > 0.96. In addition to that, our analysis of four microcosm studies on the hydrolysis of the individual enantiomers of Dichloroprop methyl, Lactofen, Fenoxaprop-ethyl, and Metalaxyl reported in the literature by other research groups revealed a suitability of the Rayleigh dependence. Two dimensional plots describing the isotope fractionation versus enantiomeric enrichment are demonstrated for all studied cases. Processes not accompanied by enantiomeric enrichment (acid and base hydrolysis) and by isotope enrichment (transesterification) are demonstrated, their 2-D plots are either horizontal or vertical which can illuminate concealed degradation pathways.

Work Function Study of Polycrystalline Metals using a UHV Scanning Kelvin Probe

We have undertaken a study of high work function (φ) surfaces as part of an ongoing project searching for efficient target materials for use in Hyperthermal Surface Ionisation (HSI), a new mass spectroscopy ionisation technique. HSI relies on high work function surfaces for the production of positive ions. Polycrystalline metals as Re, W, Mo and Pt are particularly interesting materials in this respect as oxidation substantially increases their φ. We present and discuss the following experimental evidence: a) the magnitude and sign of φ changes in terms of adsorbate induced dipoles, b) the effect of molecular hydrogen exposure on the clean surface, and c) the effect of subsequent oxygen exposure.

Using a novel UHV Scanning Kelvin Probe we have followed the oxidation kinetics of polycrystalline metals at different temperatures and examined the effects of oxidation, flash annealing and sputter-anneal cleaning cycles via high-resolution φ topographies. Our results indicate in particular Re as a suitable HSI target material exhibiting a φ increase of 1050 meV at 300 K increasing to 2050 meV at 900 K. Sputter-cleaned surfaces exhibit a dramatic change in the second oxidation phase.

We have also examined φ changes associated with N2O and CO2 on Tungsten and Molybdenum. We observe that atomic oxygen gives similar results to O2 but has a much lower initial sticking coefficient. We report that CO2 actually lowers the φ for substrate temperatures under 650 K, the peak work function changes occurs at 850 K and is approximately 1/3 the height of the O2 or O peak.

A superconducting NbN detector for neutral nanoparticles

We present a proof-of-principle study of superconducting single photon detectors (SSPD) for the detection of individual neutral molecules/nanoparticles at low energies. The new detector is applied to characterize a laser desorption source for biomolecules and allows retrieval of the arrival time distribution of a pulsed molecular beam containing the amino acid tryptophan, the polypeptide gramicidin as well as insulin, myoglobin and hemoglobin. We discuss the experimental evidence that the detector is actually sensitive to isolated neutral particles.

Analysis of quinocide in unprocessed primaquine diphosphate and primaquine diphosphate tablets using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with supersonic molecular beams

Malaria is one of the most widespread and deadly diseases on the planet. Every year, about 500 million new cases are diagnosed, and the annual death toll is about 3 million. Primaquine has strong antiparasitic effects against gametocytes and can therefore prevent the spread of the parasite from treated patients to mosquitoes. It is also used in radical cures and prevents relapse. Consequently, primaquine is an often-used drug. In this study the separation of unprocessed primaquine from the contaminant quinocide based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with supersonic molecular beam (SMB) is presented and 7.5 mg primaquine diphosphate tablets were analyzed. We present a novel method for fast determination of quinocide which is an isomer of primaquine as the main contaminant in unprocessed primaquine and in its medical form as tablets by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with SMB (also named supersonic GC-MS). Supersonic GC-MS provides enhanced molecular ion without any ion source related peak tailing plus extended range of compounds amenable for GC-MS analysis. In addition, major isomer mass spectral effects were revealed in the mass spectra of primaquine and quinocide which facilitated the unambiguous identification of quinocide in primaquine tablets. Fast GC-MS analysis is demonstrated with less then 2 min elution time of the drug and its main contaminants.

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.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with supersonic molecular beams

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with supersonic molecular beams (SMBs) (also named Supersonic GC-MS) is based on GC and MS interface with SMBs and on the electron ionization (EI) of vibrationally cold analytes in the SMBs (cold EI) in a fly-through ion source. This ion source is inherently inert and further characterized by fast response and vacuum background filtration capability. The same ion source offers three modes of ionization including cold EI, classical EI and cluster chemical ionization (CI). Cold EI, as a main mode, provides enhanced molecular ions combined with an effective library sample identification, which is supplemented and complemented by a powerful isotope abundance analysis method and software. The range of low-volatility and thermally labile compounds amenable for analysis is significantly increased owing to the use of the contact-free, fly-through ion source and the ability to lower sample elution temperatures through the use of high column carrier gas flow rates. Effective, fast GC-MS is enabled particularly owing to the possible use of high column flow rates and improved system selectivity in view of the enhancement of the molecular ion. This fast GC-MS with SMB can be further improved via the added selectivity of MS-MS, which by itself benefits from the enhancement of the molecular ion, the most suitable parent ion for MS-MS. Supersonic GC-MS is characterized by low limits of detection (LOD), and its sensitivity is superior to that of standard GC-MS, particularly for samples that are hard for analysis. The GC separation of the Supersonic GC-MS can be improved with pulsed flow modulation (PFM) GC x GC-MS. Electron ionization LC-MS with SMB can also be combined with the Supersonic GC-MS, with fast and easy switching between these two modes of operation.

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.

Isotope abundance analysis methods and software for improved sample identification with supersonic gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

We present newly developed isotope abundance analysis (IAA) methods and software which are used to derive elemental formula information from experimental mass spectral data of molecular ion isotopomeric abundances. The software, using a novel method, can also be used to automatically confirm or reject NIST library search results, thereby significantly improving the confidence level in sample identifications. In the case of IAA confirmation of the NIST library results, sample identification is unambiguous, since the confirmation is achieved by two independent sets of data and analytical methods. In the case of a rejection, such as when the molecule is not included in the library's databases, the IAA software independently provides a list of elemental formulae with declining order of matching to the isotopomeric experimental data, in a similar way to accurate mass measurements with costly instruments. IAA is ideally applicable to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (and liquid chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometry (LC/EI-MS)) with a supersonic molecular beam (SMB) since it requires a trustworthy and highly abundant true molecular ion that is unique to the SMB-MS systems, plus the absence of self chemical ionization and vacuum background noise, again unique features of GC/SMB-MS. The various features of the IAA methods and software are described, their performance is demonstrated with the analysis of experimental GC-SMB-MS data and the IAA concept is compared with accurate mass alternatives. The combination of IAA and GC/SMB-MS is believed to be superior to accurate mass GC/MS in view of the general availability of trustworthy molecular ions for an extended range of compounds.

Superimposition of a Magnetic Field around an Ion Guide for Electron Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

A new electron ionization source was developed for orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) based on the superimposition of a magnetic field around a radio frequency-only (rf-only) ion guide. The cylindrically symmetric magnetic field compresses the electron beam from the electron source into a long narrow volume along the ion guide axis. The magnetic field also helps to maintain a narrow energy distribution of electrons that penetrate the full length of the ion guide despite the influence of the radial rf field. Ionization occurs inside the ion guide with improved efficiency resulting from efficient use of electrons, prolonged interaction time, and nontraditionally large ionization volume. At the same time, the rf field effectively focuses ions radially and confines them to the axis of the ion guide by collisional focusing, leading to high ion transmission efficiency. Furthermore, the source can also be operated in a trap-and-pulse mode to improve the ion sampling duty cycle of orthogonal acceleration TOFMS. To validate the design concept of this new ion source, a simple prototype using a single set of cylindrical rods was constructed and retrofitted to an orthogonal acceleration TOFMS. A significant increase in ion signal intensity was observed by operating the source in a pulsed ion extraction mode. Low detection limits (for example, 12 fg for toluene) were determined at 12.5 spectra s(-1) in the full spectrum mode.

Laser Desorption Combined with Hyperthermal Surface Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

A setup combining laser desorption of nonvolatile molecules and their aerodynamic acceleration in a supersonic molecular beam followed by hyperthermal surface ionization in a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer is described. While laser desorption performs the intact transfer of the analyte molecules into the gas phase, hyperthermal surface ionization opens up the possibility to efficiently ionize even larger molecules with a small and potentially controlled degree of fragmentation. Being an ionization technique, which is particularly effective for aromatic and heterocyclic compounds, the selectivity can further be increased by tuning the kinetic energy to which the molecules are accelerated in the supersonic beam. The results obtained for several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and biochemical substances show that sufficient acceleration can be achieved even for molecules with a molecular weight above 5000 amu and that HSI preserves its advantageous features even for thermally labile large molecules such as insulin.

Extending the range of compounds amenable for gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) suffers from a major limitation in that an expanding number of thermally labile or low volatility compounds of interest are not amenable for analysis. We found that the elution temperatures of compounds from GC can be significantly lowered by reducing the column length, increasing the carrier gas flow rate, reducing the capillary column film thickness and lowering the temperature programming rate. Pyrene is eluted at 287 degrees C in standard GC-MS with a 30 m x 0.25 mm I.D. column with 1-microm DB5ms film and 1-ml/min He column flow rate. In contrast, pyrene is eluted at 79 degrees C in our "Supersonic GC-MS" system using a 1 m x 0.25 mm I.D. column with 0.1-microm DB5ms film and 100-ml/min He column flow rate. A simple model has been invoked to explain the significantly (up to 208 degrees C) lower elution temperatures observed. According to this model, every halving of the temperature programming rate, or number of separation plates (either through increased flow rate or due to reduced column length), results in approximately 20 degrees C lower elution temperature. These considerably lower elution temperatures enable the analysis of an extended range of thermally labile and low volatility compounds, that otherwise could not be analyzed by standard GC-MS. We demonstrate the analysis of large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as decacyclene with ten fused rings, well above the current GC limit of PAHs with six rings. Even a metalloporphirin such as magnesiumoctaethylporphin was easily analyzed with elution temperatures below 300 degrees C. Furthermore, a range of thermally labile compounds were analyzed including carbamates such as methomyl, aldicarb, aldicarbsulfone and oxamyl, explosives such as pentaerythritol tetranitrate, Tetryl and HMX, and drugs such as reserpine (608 a.m.u.). Supersonic GC-MS was used, based on the coupling of a supersonic molecular beam (SMB) inlet and ion sources with a bench-top Agilent 6890 GC plus 5972 MSD. The Supersonic GC-MS provides enhanced molecular ion without any ion source related peak tailing. Thus, the lower GC separation power involved in the analysis of thermally labile and low volatility compounds is compensated by increased separation power of the MS gained from the enhanced molecular ion. Several implications of these findings are discussed, including our conclusion that slower chromatography leads to better analysis of thermally labile compounds.

Cluster chemical ionization for improved confidence level in sample identification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Upon the supersonic expansion of helium mixed with vapor from an organic solvent (e.g. methanol), various clusters of the solvent with the sample molecules can be formed. As a result of 70 eV electron ionization of these clusters, cluster chemical ionization (cluster CI) mass spectra are obtained. These spectra are characterized by the combination of EI mass spectra of vibrationally cold molecules in the supersonic molecular beam (cold EI) with CI-like appearance of abundant protonated molecules, together with satellite peaks corresponding to protonated or non-protonated clusters of sample compounds with 1-3 solvent molecules. Like CI, cluster CI preferably occurs for polar compounds with high proton affinity. However, in contrast to conventional CI, for non-polar compounds or those with reduced proton affinity the cluster CI mass spectrum converges to that of cold EI. The appearance of a protonated molecule and its solvent cluster peaks, plus the lack of protonation and cluster satellites for prominent EI fragments, enable the unambiguous identification of the molecular ion. In turn, the insertion of the proper molecular ion into the NIST library search of the cold EI mass spectra eliminates those candidates with incorrect molecular mass and thus significantly increases the confidence level in sample identification. Furthermore, molecular mass identification is of prime importance for the analysis of unknown compounds that are absent in the library. Examples are given with emphasis on the cluster CI analysis of carbamate pesticides, high explosives and unknown samples, to demonstrate the usefulness of Supersonic GC/MS (GC/MS with supersonic molecular beam) in the analysis of these thermally labile compounds. Cluster CI is shown to be a practical ionization method, due to its ease-of-use and fast instrumental conversion between EI and cluster CI, which involves the opening of only one valve located at the make-up gas path. The ease-of-use of cluster CI is analogous to that of liquid CI in ion traps with internal ionization, and is in marked contrast to that of CI with most other standard GC/MS systems that require a change of the ion source.

Fast, high-sensitivity, multipesticide analysis of complex mixtures with supersonic gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

We developed a new instrumental approach, termed Supersonic GC-MS, which achieves fast, sensitive, confirmatory and quantitative analysis of a broad range of pesticides in complex agricultural matrices. Our Supersonic GC-MS system is a modification of a bench-top Agilent 6890 GC+5972 MSD with a supersonic molecular beam (SMB) interface and fly-through EI ion source. One of the main advantages of Supersonic GC-MS is an enhanced molecular ion (M+) in the resulting mass spectra. For example, the M+ was observed in all 88 pesticides that we studied using the Supersonic GC-MS whereas only 36 of 63 (57%) pesticides that we investigated in standard GC-MS exhibited a M+. We also found that the degree of matrix interference is exponentially reduced with the fragment mass by about 20-fold per 100 amu increasing mass. The enhancement of the M+ combined with the reduction in matrix background noise permit rapid full scan analysis of a potentially unlimited number of pesticides, unlike selected ion monitoring or MS-MS in which specific conditions are required in segments for targeted pesticides. Furthermore, unlike the case with chemical ionization, EI-SMB-MS spectra still give accurate identification of compounds using common mass spectral libraries. In practice,we found thatlibraries favor mass spectra in which the M+ appears, thus Supersonic GC-MS produced better spectra for compound identification than standard GC-MS. To achieve even lower identification limits, the M+ plus a second major ion (still using full scan data) gives higher signal-to-chemical noise ratios than the traditional 3-ion approach. The replacement of two low-mass ions with the M+ (supersonic two-ions method) results in a significant reduction of matrix interference by a factor of up to 90. Another main advantage of Supersonic GC-MS is its exceptional suitability for fast GC-MS with high carrier gas flow-rate. Fast Supersonic GC-MS was able to analyze thermally labile pesticides, such as carbamates, that are difficult or impossible to analyze in standard GC-MS. Large volume injection using a ChromatoProbe was also demonstrated, in the 6 min analysis of pesticides at 20 ng/g in a spice matrix.

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.

Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry with supersonic molecular beams

A new approach for liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is described, based on achieving soft thermal vaporization followed by supersonic expansion and direct sample compound ionization, while in a supersonic molecular beam (SMB). The soft molecular vaporization step utilizes spray formation that is continued by fast thermal vaporization inside a channel supersonic nozzle, followed by ultrafast supercooling in a supersonic expansion. The short time (several microseconds) spent by the vaporized compound in the heated nozzle prior to its expansion cooling may result in incomplete vibrational equilibrium and thus reduced degree of dissociation. In addition, even if vibrational equilibrium at the nozzle temperature is obtained, the sample compounds have significantly reduced time for their dissociation, which is thus further minimized (kinetic consideration). As soon as the molecules expand and form a SMB, they are supercooled and any further dissociation is avoided. While in the SMB, the sample molecules can be ionized either by electron ionization as described in this paper or by hyperthermal surface ionization. The major goal of this method is to obtain high quality library searchable electron ionization mass spectra, for a broad range of thermally labile compounds, with higher sensitivity than that achievable by particle beam LC-MS. The soft thermal vaporization nozzle is described and mass spectral results with corticosterone are demonstrated. The potential advantageous features of this new method are discussed.

Fast analysis of drugs in a single hair

A new method for the fast screening of cocaine and 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) in a single hair, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), is described. The analyses are conducted in less than 10 min with minimal sample preparation. The novel method combines the ChromatoProbe direct sample introduction device for intrainjector thermal extraction, fast GC separation, a supersonic molecular beam GC/MS interface and hyperthermal surface ionization (HSI). The technique has been successfully employed for the detection of cocaine in as little as a 1-mm section of hair using selected ion monitoring (SIM). Unambiguous full scan mass spectra of cocaine and 6-MAM were obtained on a single hair for cocaine and heroin users, respectively. HSI was found to be almost 3 orders of magnitude more selective than electron impact ionization for cocaine compared with the major hair constituents, with a minimum detected concentration of approximately 10 ppb in the SIM mode. Results obtained for 12 drugs users showed full qualitative agreement with similar results using rigorous solvent extraction followed by electrospray-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. However, quantitative studies showed only partial agreement. No false positives were observed for 10 drugs free subjects. This method enables fast drug monitoring along the hair length which permits time correlation studies.

Simultaneous pulsed flame photometric and mass spectrometric detection for enhanced pesticide analysis capabilities

Analysis of pesticides by simultaneous pulsed flame photometric detection (PFPD) and mass spectrometric (MS) detection was performed with column-effluent splitting between these two detectors. The resulting PFPD chromatograms were always much simpler due to the PFPD selectively and were further characterized by better sensitivity than that of MS. Accordingly, the PFPD chromatogram served as a marker for the exact elution time of the suspected pesticide. At this exact elution time, the resulting mass spectra were examined of unique high-mass peaks and a precise background subtraction was performed for improved library identification. If no definite identification was achieved, reconstructed mass chromatograms were performed, inspected for suspected major ions and confirmed with the PFPD chromatogram. A sequential search was then performed with the NIST library. The presence of P or S atoms was introduced into the search algorithm and two of the major suspected fragment mass peaks were included with an estimate of their minimum relative abundance. Under these conditions, the library search provided the correct pesticide identification, at a considerably lower concentration than achievable with standard GC-MC analysis. If only information on a single ion was available, such as with very pronounced matrix interferences, or with single-ion monitoring MS analysis, the NIST library sequential search was operated with this single-on information and PFPD provided information on both P and S (the majority of organophosphorus pesticides contain both P and S). The incorporation of one major ion and two heteroatoms' (P and S) information enabled an effective library identification, at an even further reduced pesticide concentration. The simultaneous PFPD-MS analysis approach is demonstrated and discussed with several examples of authentic pesticides in vegetable and spices. The merits of this method are analyzed and discussed with an emphasis on the unique suitability of PFPD for combination with MS.

Laser desorption fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in supersonic molecular beams

A novel method for fast analysis is presented. It is based on laser desorption injection followed by fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in supersonic molecular beams. The sample was placed in an open air or purged laser desorption compartment, held at atmospheric pressure and near room temperature conditions. Desorption was performed with a XeCl Excimer pulsed laser with pulse energy of typically 3 mJ on the surface. About 20 pulses at 50 Hz were applied for sample injection, resulting in about 0.4 s injection time and one or a few micrograms sample vapor or small particles. The laser desorbed sample was further thermally vaporized at a heated frit glass filter located at the fast GC inlet. Ultrafast GC separation and quantification was achieved with a 50-cm-long megabore column operated with a high carrier gas flow rate of up to 240 mL/min. The high carrier gas flow rate provided effective and efficient entrainment of the laser desorbed species in the sweeping gas. Following the fast GC separation, the sample was analyzed by mass spectrometry in supersonic molecular beams. Both electron ionization and hyperthermal surface ionization were employed for enhanced selectivity and sensitivity. Typical laser desorption analysis time was under 10 s. The laser desorption fast GC-MS was studied and demonstrated with the following sample/matrices combinations, all without sample preparation or extraction: (a) traces of dioctylphthalate plasticizer oil on stainless steel surface and the efficiency of its cleaning; (b) the detection of methylparathion and aldicarb pesticides on orange leaves; (c) water surface analysis for the presence of methylparathion pesticide; (d) caffeine analysis in regular and decaffeinated coffee powder; (e) paracetamol and codeine drug analysis in pain relieving drug tablets; (f) caffeine trace analysis in raw urine; (g) blood analysis for the presence of 1 ppm lidocaine drug. The features and advantages of the laser desorption fast GC-MS are demonstrated and discussed.

Fast, very fast, and ultra-fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of thermally labile steroids, carbamates, and drugs in supersonic molecular beams

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses of thermally labile compounds have been studied by using a short column fast gas chromatograph, coupled with fly-through electron ionization in supersonic molecular beams. Thirty-two compounds, which include steroids, carbamate pesticides, antibiotic drugs, and other pharmaceutical compounds, have been analyzed and the details of their GC-MS analysis are provided. The ability to analyze thermally labile compounds is discussed in relation to the speed of analysis. A new term, "speed enhancement factor" (SEF), is defined as the product of column length reduction and the carrier gas linear velocity increase, as compared with normal GC-MS conditions. Fast, very fast, and ultra-fast GC-MS are defined with a SEF in the ranges of 5-30, 30-400, and 400-4000, respectively. Trade-offs in the degree of dissociation, speed, gas chromatograph resolution, and sensitivity were studied and examined with thermally labile molecules. The experimental factors that affect the dissociation are described with emphasis on its reduction. We claim that the use of supersonic molecular beams for sampling and ionization provides the ultimate capability in the GC-MS of thermally labile compounds. The obtained 70-eV electron ionization mass spectra are shown, and an enhanced relative abundance of the molecular ion is demonstrated together with library search capability of these mass spectra, which is better than that reported with particle beam liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The performance of fast GC-MS in supersonic molecular beams is compared with other methods of fast GC-MS and with particle beam liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Cluster chemical ionization and deuterium exchange mass spectrometry in supersonic molecular Beams

A cluster-based chemical ionization method has been developed that produces protonated molecular ions from molecules introduced through a supersonic molecular beam interface. Mixed clusters of the analyte and a clustering agent (water or methanol) are produced in the expansion region of the beam, and are subsequently ionized by "fly through" electron impact (EI) ionization, which results in a mass spectrum that is a combination of protonated molecular ion peaks together with the conventional EI fragmentation pattern. The technique is presented and discussed as a tool complementary to electron impact ionization in supersonic molecular beams. Surface-induced dissociation on a rhenium oxide surface is also applied to simplify the mass spectra of clusters and reveal the analyte spectrum. The high gas flow rates involved with the supersonic molecular beam interface that enable the easy introduction of the clustering agents also have been used to introduce deuterating agents. An easy-to-use, fast, and routine on-line deuterium exchange method was developed to exchange active hydrogens (NH, OH). This method, combined with electron impact ionization, is demonstrated and discussed in terms of the unique information available through the EI fragmentation patterns, its ability to help in isomer identification, and possible applications with fast gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in supersonic molecular beams.

Electron impact mass spectrometry of alkanes in supersonic molecular beams

The electron impact mass spectrometry of straight chain alkanes C8H18-C40H82, squalane, methylstearate, 1-chlorohexadecane, 1-bromohexadecane, and dioctylphthalate was studied by sampling them with supersonic molecular beams. A fly-through Brink-type electron impact ion source was used, utilizing a vacuum background ion filtration technique based on differences between the kinetic energy of the supersonic beam species and that of thermal molecules. The 70-eV electron impact mass spectra of all the alkanes were characterized by a pronounced or dominant molecular weight peak together with all the fragment ions normally exhibited by the standard thermal 70-eV EI mass spectra. In contrast, the NIST library of most of these molecules did not show any molecular weight peak. By eliminating tile intramolecular thermal vibrational energy we gained control over the degree of molecular ion fragmentation by the electron energy. At an electron energy of 18 eV the molecular ion dissociation was further reduced considerably, with only a small absolute reduction in the peak height by less than a factor of 2. The effect of vibrational cooling increased with the molecular size and number of atoms. Pronounced differences were observed between the mass spectra of the straight chain triacontane and its branched isomer squalane. Similar mass spectra of octacosane (C28H58) achieved with 70-eV EI in a supersonic molecular beam were obtained with a magnetic sector mass spectrometer by using an electron energy of 14 eV and an ion source temperature of 150 °C. However, this ion source temperature precluded the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of octacosane. The GC-MS of alkanes was studied with an ion trap gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer at an ion source temperature of 230 °C. Thermal peak tailing was observed for C20H42 and heavier alkanes, whereas for C28H58 and heavier alkanes the severe peak tailing made quantitative GC-MS impractical. In contrast, no peak tailing existed even with C40H82 for GC-MS in supersonic molecular beams. The minimum detected amount of eicosane (C20, H42) was shown to be 60 fg. This was demonstrated by using single ion monitoring with the quadrupole mass analyzer tuned to the molecular weight peak of 282 u. The coupling of electron impact mass spectrometry in supersonic molecular beams with hyperthermal surface ionization and a fast GC-MS inlet is briefly discussed.

High-efficiency surface-induced dissociation on a rhenium oxide surface

We report on the high-efficiency surface-induced dissociation of benzene and cyclohexane polyatomic ions after scattering from a rhenium oxide surface with a kinetic energy of 5-290 eV. Rhenium oxide was prepared by directly heating a rhenium metal foil, under 10(-5) mbar partial oxygen pressure, at about 1000 K.Rhenium oxide is characterized by a very high work function of 6.4 eV and thus minimizes ion reneutralization probabilities. The catalytic combustion of surface organic impurities with oxygen ensures good long-term stability.We found that the surface-induced dissociation ion current is 70 times larger on rhenium oxide than on bare rhenium or stainless steel. Absolute scattered ion yields of about 50% were measured. The implications of surface-induced dissociation on mass spectrometry in supersonic molecular beams are mentioned.