Low-Temperature Plasma Ionization-Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Compounds in Organic Aerosol Particles

Investigating Electrosprayed Droplets Using Particle-into-Liquid Sampling for Nanoliter Electrochemical Reactions

Electrospray ionization (ESI) is a powerful ionization technique that can generate charged solvent droplets and bare analyte ions from sample solutions. Despite seeing extensive use in mass spectrometry due in part to the low internal energy deposited into the ions formed during ionization, some unknowns persist regarding the exact dynamics of droplet breakup and molecule behavior during spray, and research is still underway regarding how various types of molecules acquire charge during the ESI process. Previously, the authors introduced a novel aerosol measurement technique, particle-into-liquid sampling for nanoliter electrochemical reactions (PILSNER). The current work introduces a new method utilizing PILSNER for the examination of the particles generated during ESI using simple analysis techniques with a commercially available potentiostat. This technique is applied in this work for the detection of charges on electrosprayed droplets, including the estimation of the number of charges on individual ESI droplets using a fluorescent proxy. This technique provides an additional tool for the exploration of the complex process of droplet generation and ion liberation during ESI.

Thermogravimetry combined with electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry for characterization of synthetic polymers

RATIONALE

Thermogravimetry (TG) combined with electrospray and atmospheric chemical ionization (ESI+APCI) mass spectrometry (MS) was developed to rapidly characterize thermal decomposition products of synthetic polymers and plastic products. The ESI-based TG-MS method is useful for characterizing thermally labile, nonvolatile, and polar compounds over an extensive mass range; and the APCI-based TG-MS counterpart is useful for characterizing volatile and nonpolar compounds. Both polar and nonpolar compounds can be simultaneously detected by ESI+APCI-based TG-MS.

METHODS

Analytes with different volatility were produced from TG operated at different temperatures, which were delivered through a heated stainless-steel tube to the ESI+APCI source where they reacted with the primary charged species generated from electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (ESI+APCI) of solvent and nitrogen. The analyte ions were then detected by an ion trap mass spectrometer.

RESULTS

A semi-volatile PEG 600 standard was used as the sample and protonated and sodiated molecular ions together with adduct ions including [(PEG)n + 15]⁺ , [(PEG)n + 18]⁺ , and [(PEG)n + 29]⁺ were detected by TG-ESI+APCI-MS. The technique was further utilized to characterize thermal decomposition products of nonvolatile polypropylene glycol (PPG) and polystyrene (PS) standards, as well as a PS-made water cup and coffee cup lid. The characteristic fragments of PPG and PS with mass differences of 58 and 104 between respective ion peaks were detected at the maximum decomposition temperature (T_max ).

CONCLUSIONS

The information obtained from the TG-ESI+APCI-MS analysis is useful in rapidly distinguishing different types of polymers and their products. In addition, the signals of the additives in the polymer products, including antioxidants and plasticizers, were also detected before the TG temperature reached T_max .

Quantitative Analysis of Exhaled Breath Collected on Filter Substrates via Low-Temperature Plasma Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Breath analysis has attracted increasing attention in recent years due to its great potential for disease diagnostics at early stages and for clinical drug monitoring. There are several recent examples of successful development of real-time, in vivo quantitative analysis of exhaled breath metabolites via mass spectrometry. On the other hand, current mass spectrometer accessibility limitations restrict point-of-care applications. Here now, an offline method is developed for quantitative analysis of exhaled breath collected on inexpensive filter substrates for direct desorption and ionization by using low-temperature plasma-mass spectrometry (LTP-MS). In particular, different operating conditions of the ionization source were systematically studied to optimize desorption/ionization by using glycerol, a low volatility compound. Applications with respect to propofol, γ-valprolactone, and nicotine analysis in exhaled breath are demonstrated in this study. The effects of several filter substrate properties, including filter material and pore size, on the analyte signal were characterized. Cellulose filter papers performed best with the present analytes. In addition, filters with smaller pores enabled a more efficient sample collection. Furthermore, sample-collection flow rate was determined to have a very significant effect, with slower flow rates yielding the best results. It was also found that filters loaded with sample can be successfully stored in glass vials with no observable sample loss even after 3 days. Limits of detection under optimized conditions are shown to be competitive or significantly better compared with relevant techniques and with additional benefits of cost-efficiency and sample storage capabilities.

Aerosol Electroanalysis by PILSNER: Particle-into-Liquid Sampling for Nanoliter Electrochemical Reactions

Particle-into-liquid sampling (PILS) has enabled robust quantification of analytes of interest in aerosol particles. In PILS, the limit of detection is limited by the factor of particle dilution into the liquid sampling volume. Thus, much lower limits of detection can be achieved by decreasing the sampling volume and increasing the surface area-to-volume ratio of the collection substrate. Unfortunately, few analytical techniques can realize this miniaturization. Here, we use an ultramicroelectrode in a microliter or smaller sampling volume to detect redox active species in aerosols to develop the technique of Particle-into-Liquid Sampling for Nanoliter Electrochemical Reactions (PILSNER). As a proof-of-concept to validate this technique, we demonstrate the detection of K₄Fe(CN)₆ in aerosol particles (diameter ∼0.1-2 μm) and quantify the electrochemical response. To further explore the utility of the method to detect environmentally relevant redox molecules, we show PILSNER can detect 1 ng/m³ airborne Pb in aerosols. We also demonstrate the feasibility of detecting perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), a persistent environmental contaminant, using this technique. PILSNER is shown to represent a significant advancement toward simple and effective detection of a variety of emerging contaminants with an easily miniaturizable and tunable electroanalytical platform.

Reactive Olfaction Ambient Mass Spectrometry

Chemical ionization of organic compounds with negligible vapor pressures (VP) is achieved at atmospheric pressure when the proximal sample is exposed to corona discharge. The vapor-phase analyte is produced through a reactive olfaction process, which is determined to include electrostatic charge induction in the proximal condensed-phase sample, resulting in the liberation of free particles. With no requirement for physical contact, a new contained nano-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (nAPCI) source was developed that allowed direct mass spectrometry analysis of complex mixtures at a sample consumption rate less than nmol/min. The contained nAPCI source was applied to analyze a wide range of samples including the detection of 1 ng/mL cocaine in serum and 200 pg/mL caffeine in raw urine, as well as the differentiation of chemical composition of perfumes and beverages. Polar (e.g., carminic acid; estimated VP 5.1 × 10^-25 kPa) and nonpolar (e.g., vitamin D2; VP 8.5 × 10^-11 kPa) compounds were successfully ionized by the contained nAPCI ion source under ambient conditions, with the corresponding ion types of 78 other organic compounds characterized.

Use of an Open Port Sampling Interface Coupled to Electrospray Ionization for the On-Line Analysis of Organic Aerosol Particles

A simple design for an open port sampling interface coupled to electrospray ionization (OPSI-ESI) is presented for the analysis of organic aerosols. The design uses minimal modifications to a Bruker electrospray (ESI) emitter to create a continuous flow, self-aspirating open port sampling interface. Considerations are presented for introducing aerosol to the open port sampling interface including aerosol gas flow and solvent flow rates. The device has been demonstrated for use with an aerosol of nicotine as well as aerosol formed in the pyrolysis of biomass. Upon comparison with extractive electrospray ionization (EESI), this device has similar sensitivity with increased reproducibility by nearly a factor of three. The device has the form factor of a standard Bruker/Agilent ESI emitter and can be used without any further instrument modifications. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Metal Cationization Extractive Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Compounds Containing Multiple Oxygens

Extractive electrospray ionization is an ambient ionization technique that allows real-time sampling of liquid samples, including organic aerosols. Similar to electrospray ionization, the composition of the electrospray solvent used in extractive electrospray ionization can easily be altered to form metal cationized molecules during ionization simply by adding a metal salt to the electrospray solvent. An increase in sensitivity is observed for some molecules that are lithium, sodium, or silver cationized compared with the protonated molecule formed in extractive electrospray ionization with an acid additive. Tandem mass spectrometry of metal cationized molecules can also significantly improve the ability to identify a compound. Tandem mass spectrometry of lithium and silver cationized molecules can result in an increase in the number and uniqueness of dissociation pathways relative to [M + H]⁺. These results highlight the potential for extractive electrospray ionization with metal cationization in analyzing complex aerosol mixtures. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Miniature Flow-Through Low-Temperature Plasma Ionization Source for Ambient Ionization of Gases and Aerosols

The design and operation of an inexpensive, miniature low-temperature plasma ion source is detailed. The miniature low-temperature plasma ion source is operated in a "flow-through" configuration, wherein the gaseous or aerosolized analyte, caffeine or pyrolyzed ethyl cellulose, in a carrier gas is used as the plasma gas. In this flow-through configuration, the sensitivity for the caffeine standard and the pyrolysis products of ethyl cellulose is maintained or increased and the reproducibility of the ion source is increased. Changes in the relative intensity of ions from the aerosol produced by pyrolysis of ethyl cellulose are observed in the mass spectrum when the low-temperature plasma ion source is used in the flow-through configuration. Experiments suggest this change in relative intensity is likely due to differences in ionization efficiency rather than increased fragmentation of ethyl cellulose pyrolysis products during ionization. Flow-through low-temperature plasma ionization with the miniature ion source is shown to be a promising technique for the ionization of compounds in gases or aerosol particles.

Fast screening of analytes for chemical reactions by reactive low-temperature plasma ionization mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Approaches for analyte screening have been used to aid in the fine-tuning of chemical reactions. Herein, we present a simple and straightforward analyte screening method for chemical reactions via reactive low-temperature plasma ionization mass spectrometry (reactive LTP-MS).

METHODS

Solution-phase reagents deposited on sample substrates were desorbed into the vapor phase by action of the LTP and by thermal desorption. Treated with LTP, both reagents reacted through a vapor phase ion/molecule reaction to generate the product. Finally, protonated reagents and products were identified by LTP-MS.

RESULTS

Reaction products from imine formation reaction, Eschweiler-Clarke methylation and the Eberlin reaction were detected via reactive LTP-MS. Products from the imine formation reaction with reagents substituted with different functional groups (26 out of 28 trials) were successfully screened in a time of 30 s each. Besides, two short-lived reactive intermediates of Eschweiler-Clarke methylation were also detected.

CONCLUSIONS

LTP in this study serves both as an ambient ionization source for analyte identification (including reagents, intermediates and products) and as a means to produce reagent ions to assist gas-phase ion/molecule reactions. The present reactive LTP-MS method enables fast screening for several analytes from several chemical reactions, which possesses good reagent compatibility and the potential to perform high-throughput analyte screening. In addition, with the detection of various reactive intermediates (intermediates I and II of Eschweiler-Clarke methylation), the present method would also contribute to revealing and elucidating reaction mechanisms.