Sensitivity of positive ion mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) in the analysis of purine bases in ESI MS and on-line electrochemistry ESI MS (EC/ESI MS)

A cone-shaped MS inlet and on-line electrochemistry (EC) were used to enhance the ionization efficiency in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) of purine bases. A pathway of positive ion mode ESI may involve oxidation of purine bases, guanine, adenine, xanthine and hypoxanthine, by 1e⁻, 1H⁺ processes. The electrospray process generates dimers of purine bases that are detected in ESI MS as protonated ions, except for xanthine, for which a protonated radical dimer is detected. Thus electrochemical oxidation of purine bases during ESI may generate reactive radicals that can subsequently dimerize. Dimer formation is facilitated in ESI MS when the carrier solution pH is high. The positive ion mode ESI MS ionization is consistent with the reactivity of the bases toward oxidation. Furthermore, the formation of the protonated ions, and Na⁺ and K⁺ adducts of the bases, expected in positive ion ESI MS, are observed. In addition, unusual H-bonding of purine bases guanine and xanthine is confirmed by ESI MS. Application of low EC voltage to the on-line EC cell in EC/ESI MS improves the sensitivity and correlates with the decrease of the intensity of the dimers, possibly as a result of their further oxidation.     

半导体二极管γ瞬时辐射效应

本文研究了半导体二极管瞬时电离辐射效应,给出了在闪光X射线机上的试验结果。     

Analysis of solvent dyes in refined petroleum products by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Solvent dyes are used to color refined petroleum products to enable differentiation between gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels. Analysis for these dyes in the hydrocarbon product is difficult due to their very low concentrations in such a complex matrix. Flow injection analysis/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry in both negative and positive mode was used to optimize ionization of ten typical solvent dyes. Samples of hydrocarbon product were analyzed under similar conditions. Positive electrospray ionization produced very complex spectra, which were not suitably specific for targeting only the dyes. Negative electrospray ionization produced simple spectra because aliphatic and aromatic moieties were not ionized. This enabled screening for a target dye in samples of hydrocarbon product from a spill.     

Comparison of the NIST and NPL Air Kerma Standards Used for X-Ray Measurements Between 10 kV and 80 kV

A direct comparison was made between the air kerma primary standards used for the measurements of low-energy x rays at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The comparison was conducted at the NPL using NPL reference radiation qualities between 10 kV and 80 kV. The results show the primary air-kerma standards to agree within 0.6 % of their values for beam qualities up to 80 kV.     

Formation of the highly stable pyranoanthocyanins (vitisins A and B) in red wines by the addition of pyruvic acid and acetaldehyde

Pyruvic acid (500 mg/l) and acetaldehyde (200 mg/l) were added, either as a large single dose or as smaller weekly doses over a 10 week period, to a young red wine (Vitis vinifera L. cv Tempranillo) in order to study the formation of vitisin A and B, and p-coumaroylvitisin A and B. In a further trial, pyruvic acid and acetaldehyde were added simultaneously as a single administration to test for any synergistic effect on vitisin formation. The addition of pyruvic acid led to the production of higher concentrations of vitisin A (4.08 ± 0.86 mg/l; 2.03% of the total anthocyanin content), while additions of acetaldehyde increased the concentration of vitisin B (2.47 ± 0.09 mg/l; 1.35%). The single, large dose administrations led to greater vitisin formation than did the smaller, weekly doses. Different patterns of formation were seen for vitisin A and B: the highest vitisin A content was achieved during the latter half of the 10 week study period while the highest vitisin B concentration was achieved early. The addition of acetaldehyde produced a greater reduction in monomeric anthocyanins than did the addition of pyruvic acid (loss of total anthocyanins 81.5%). The simultaneous addition of pyruvic acid and acetaldehyde led to less vitisin formation than did the addition of the reagents separately. p-Coumaroylvitisin A reached a maximum concentration of 0.86 ± 0.15 mg/l when the single dose of pyruvic acid was added, while the maximum recorded for p-coumaroylvitisin B was 0.66 ± 0.05 mg/l when the single dose of acetaldehyde was added. All anthocyanins were identified using HPLC/DAD and HPLC/ESI–MS.     

Nanosecond and femtosecond mass spectroscopic analysis of a molecular beam produced by the spray-jet technique

The spray-jet molecular beam apparatus enabled us to produce a molecular beam of non-volatile molecules under high vacuum from a sprayed mist of sample solutions. The apparatus has been used in spectroscopic studies and as a means of molecular beam deposition. We analyzed the molecular beam, consisting of non-volatile, solvent, and carrier-gas molecules, by using femtosecond- and nanosecond- laser mass spectroscopy. The information thus obtained provided insight into the molecular beam produced by the spray-jet technique.     

Modern mass spectrometry for coatings

For the analysis of polymers soft ionization mass spectrometry, in which only molecular ions are observed, can provide the complete distribution of chains (length, composition, end-groups) in under ten minutes on microgram quantities of material. Moreover, molecular ion information of neat organic pigments or those present in crosslinked networks can also be furnished. No other analytical technique can supply these data in such a short time. The application of mass spectrometry to the characterization of materials used in today's high performance automotive coatings is presented. These include functional monomers, several acrylic copolymers, organic pigments and an epoxide prepolymer. While there are a variety of mass spectrometric techniques, in this paper we will highlight the techniques that we have found useful for the characterization of organic coating components. The selection of the mass spectrometric technique is dictated by the molecular weight of the material and to a lesser extent the chemical composition. We used potassium ionization of desorbed species (K⁺IDS) performed on a quadrupole mass spectrometer for materials under 1000 Daltons (Da). However, many of the ingredients used in current automotive finishes fall between 1000 and 10 000 Da. For these materials we used a Fourier transform mass spectrometer (FTMS) which is well suited for this mass range and boasts the highest resolution and mass accuracy available. Direct desorption/ionization using a carbon dioxide laser is our standard method of sample introduction. Recently, we coupled a gel permeation chromatograph to our FTMS using an electrospray ionization interface. This hyphenated technique offers one of the most powerful characterization methods for the coatings chemist.     

An improved LC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of acrylamide in processed foods

An improved liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of acrylamide in processed foods. The homogenized samples, spiked with ¹³C₃-acrylamide as an internal standard, were extracted with water and centrifuged. D₅-3-chloropropanediol as a recovery standard was added to 1-ml aliquots, and the sample was purified with a C₁₈-cartridge column. The extract was directly analyzed using LC-MS/MS without derivatization. The ion transitions of 72–55 m/z (acrylamide), 75–58 m/z (¹³C₃-acrylamide), and 116–98 m/z (d₅-3-chloropropanediol) were found to be the most reliable for the identification and quantification of acrylamide in multiple reaction monitoring. The limit of quantification for acrylamide, defined as a signal-to-noise ratio of 10:1, was 2 μg/kg. The use of d₅-3-chloropropanediol minimized the effects of variation in the sample matrixes and increased the quality of analysis. This method could be applied to the quantification of acrylamide in processed foods.     

Atmospheric pressure ion sources

This review of atmospheric pressure ion sources discusses major developments that have occurred since 1991. Advances in the instrumentation and understanding of the key physical principles are the primary focus. Developments with electrospray and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and variations encompassing adaptations for surface analysis, ambient air analysis, high throughput, and modification of the ionization mechanism are covered. An important and limiting consequence of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, chemical noise, is discussed as is techniques being employed to ameliorate the problem. Ion transfer and transport from atmospheric pressure into deep vacuum is an area undergoing constant improvement and refinement so is given considerable consideration in this review. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 28:870–897, 2009     

From hot electron transport theory to macroscopic nonlinear and chaotic behavior induced by impact ionization in semiconductors

The status of our theoretical understanding of self-generated nonlinear and chaotic oscillations in semiconductors associated with impact ionization of impurity centers is reviewed from the viewpoint of hot electron transport theory. A set of hydrodynamic balance equations for the carrier density, mean momentum and energy is developed. It constitutes, together with Maxwell's equations, a macroscopic nonlinear dynamic system. We discuss various simplified versions of this model, which give rise to local or global bifurcations and hysteresis of limit cycle oscillations, a period-doubling route to chaos, mode-locking and quasiperiodicity, traveling waves, and breathing current filaments.