Mass spectrometry allowsus to determine the molecular mass
and the molecular formula of a compound, as well as certain
structural features of the compound.
PRINCIPLE
• In mass spectrometry, a small sample of a compound is
introduced into an instrument called a mass spectrometer,
where it is vaporized and then ionized as a result of an electron’s
being removed from each molecule. Ionization can be
accomplished in several ways.
• The most common method bombards the vaporized molecules
with a beam of high-energy electrons. The energy of the
electron beam can be varied, but a beam of about 70 electron
volts (eV) is commonly used.
• When the electron beam hits a molecule, it knocks out an
electron, producing a molecular ion, which is a radical cation—a
species with an unpaired electron and a positive charge.
Fragmentation may involve
Collisioninduced dissociation
Electron capture dissociation
Electron transfer dissociation
Photo dissociation
Surface induced dissociation
23.
Inlet Systems:
Inlet Systems:
•LC & GC coupled to mass spectrometer
LC & GC coupled to mass spectrometer
• Permits separation and determination of components for
Permits separation and determination of components for
complex mixtures
complex mixtures
Requires specialized inlet systems
Requires specialized inlet systems
Major interface problem – carrier gas dilution
Major interface problem – carrier gas dilution
Jet separator (separates analyte from carrier gas)
Jet separator (separates analyte from carrier gas)
24.
Types of Atomicand Molecular MS
Types of Atomic and Molecular MS
• Thermal ionization & Spark source
Thermal ionization & Spark source
first MS
first MS
• Inductively coupled plasma (ICP)
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP)
current common approach
current common approach
- Differ by types ion sources and mass analyzer
Differ by types ion sources and mass analyzer
25.
Ion Sources:
Ion Sources:
•Formation of gaseous analyte ions
Formation of gaseous analyte ions
• Mass spectrometric methods are dictated by ionization techniques
Mass spectrometric methods are dictated by ionization techniques
• Appearance of spectrum highly dependant on ionization technique
Appearance of spectrum highly dependant on ionization technique
• Gas-phase
Gas-phase
Sample first vaporized then ionized
Sample first vaporized then ionized
Thermally stable compounds boiling points < 500
Thermally stable compounds boiling points < 500o
o
C
C
MW < 100 amu
MW < 100 amu
• Desorption
Desorption
Solid or liquid directly converted to gaseous ion
Solid or liquid directly converted to gaseous ion
MW as large as 10
MW as large as 105
5
daltons
daltons
Type Name and Acronym Ionizing Process
Gas Phase Electron Impact (EI) Exposure to electron stream
Chemical Ionization (CI) Reagent gaseous ions
Field Ionization (FI) High potential electrode
Desorption Field Desorption (FD) High potential electrode
Electrospray Ionization (ESI) High electric field
Matrix-assisted desorption ionization (MALDI) Laser beam
Plasma Desorption (PD) Fission fragments from 252
Cf
Fast Atom Bombardment (FAB) Energetic atomic beam
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) Energetic beam of ions
Thermospray Ionization (TS)
26.
Ion Sources:
Ion Sources:
•Hard sources
Hard sources
Sufficient energy so analyte in highly excited energy state
Sufficient energy so analyte in highly excited energy state
Relaxation involves rupture of bonds
Relaxation involves rupture of bonds
- Produces fragment ions with
Produces fragment ions with m
m/
/z
z < molecular ion
< molecular ion
- Kinds of functional groups
Kinds of functional groups
structural information
structural information
Hard
Ionization
27.
Ion Sources:
Ion Sources:
•Soft sources
Soft sources
Cause little fragmentation
Cause little fragmentation
Mass spectrum consists of molecular ion and only
Mass spectrum consists of molecular ion and only
few, if any, other peaks
few, if any, other peaks
Accurate mass
Accurate mass
Soft
Ionization
28.
IONIZATION TECHNIQUES
EI: ElectronImpact
CI: Chemical Ionization
FAB: Fast Atom Bombardment
ESI-TOF: Electron Spray Ionization
MALDI-MALDI: Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization
29.
Ion Sources:
Ion Sources:
•Electron-Impact Source (EI)
Electron-Impact Source (EI)
Sample heated to produce molecular vapor
Sample heated to produce molecular vapor
Bombard with a beam of electrons
Bombard with a beam of electrons
- Electrons emitted from heated tungsten or rhenium filament
Electrons emitted from heated tungsten or rhenium filament
- Electrons accelerated by a potential of 70V
Electrons accelerated by a potential of 70V
- Path of electrons and molecular ion at right angles
Path of electrons and molecular ion at right angles
Form positive ions
Form positive ions
electron beam expels electron due to
electron beam expels electron due to
electrostatic repulsion
electrostatic repulsion
M +
M + e
e-
-
M
M●+
●+
+ 2
+ 2e
e-
-
Positive ions attracted to first slit by small potential 5V
Positive ions attracted to first slit by small potential 5V
High potential applied at accelerator plates 10
High potential applied at accelerator plates 103
3
to 10
to 104
4
V
V
- Generates molecular ion velocity
Generates molecular ion velocity
30.
Ion Sources:
Ion Sources:
•Electron-Impact Source (EI)
Electron-Impact Source (EI)
Hard source 50V higher energy than chemical bond
Hard source 50V higher energy than chemical bond
Highly excited vibrational and rotational state
Highly excited vibrational and rotational state
- Electron beam does not increase translational
Electron beam does not increase translational
energy
energy
Relaxation results in extensive fragmentation
Relaxation results in extensive fragmentation
- Large number of positive ions of various masses
Large number of positive ions of various masses
- Typically less mass than molecular ion
Typically less mass than molecular ion
- Lower mass ions called
Lower mass ions called daughter ions
daughter ions
- Sometimes molecular ion not present
Sometimes molecular ion not present
Base peak
Base peak
most intense peak
most intense peak
- Usually a daughter ion or fragment ion
Usually a daughter ion or fragment ion
31.
Advantages
Advantages
- Good sensitivity
Goodsensitivity
- Fragmentation
Fragmentation
unambiguous identification of
unambiguous identification of
analytes
analytes
Disadvantages
Disadvantages
- Need to volatize sample
Need to volatize sample
thermal
thermal
decomposition before ionization
decomposition before ionization
- Fragmentation
Fragmentation
disappearance of molecular ion
disappearance of molecular ion
peak
peak
- MW not determined
MW not determined
32.
Chemical Ionization (CI)
ChemicalIonization is the second most common procedure
Chemical Ionization is the second most common procedure
for generating ions
for generating ions
Gaseous atoms from the sample are:
Gaseous atoms from the sample are:
-Heated from a probe
Heated from a probe
-Collide with ions produced reagent gas bombarded by
Collide with ions produced reagent gas bombarded by
electrons
electrons
-Usually positive ions are used
Usually positive ions are used
Soft Source
Soft Source
Methane is common reagent
Methane is common reagent
-Also use propane, isobutane and ammonia
Also use propane, isobutane and ammonia
-Reacts with high-energy electron beam to generate several
Reacts with high-energy electron beam to generate several
ions
ions
33.
Chemical Ionization (CI)
Thevapourized sample is introduced into the mass
spectrometer with an excess of a ‘reagent’ gas (commonly)
at a pressure of about 1 torr.
The excess carrier gas is ionized by electron impact to the
primary ions CH4.+
and CH3
+
. These react with the excess
methane to give secondary ions.
34.
• Fast AtomBombardment Sources (FAB)
Fast Atom Bombardment Sources (FAB)
Major role for MS studies of polar high molecular-weight species
Major role for MS studies of polar high molecular-weight species
Soft Ionization technique
Soft Ionization technique
Samples are in a condensed state
Samples are in a condensed state
- Glycerol solution matrix
Glycerol solution matrix
Ionized by bombardment with energetic (several keV) xenon or
Ionized by bombardment with energetic (several keV) xenon or
argon atoms
argon atoms
- Very rapid sample heating
Very rapid sample heating
- Reduces sample fragmentation
Reduces sample fragmentation
Positive & negative analyte ions are sputtered from the surface
Positive & negative analyte ions are sputtered from the surface
- Desorption process
Desorption process
35.
Beam offast energetic atoms are generated by:
Beam of fast energetic atoms are generated by:
- Passing accelerated argon or xenon ions from an ion source
Passing accelerated argon or xenon ions from an ion source
through a chamber
through a chamber
- Chamber contains argon or xenon atoms at 10
Chamber contains argon or xenon atoms at 10-5
-5
torr
torr
- High-velocity ions undergo a resonant electron-exchange reaction
High-velocity ions undergo a resonant electron-exchange reaction
without substantial loss of translational energy
without substantial loss of translational energy
Focusing
Extraction plate
Analyte ion beam
(secondary ions)
Probe tip
Analyte metrix
Atom beam
38.
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization(MALDI)
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI)
Accurate MW for polar biopolymers
Accurate MW for polar biopolymers
- DNA, RNA, Proteins
DNA, RNA, Proteins
- Few thousands to several hundred thousand Da
Few thousands to several hundred thousand Da
Sample is mixed with large excess of radiation-absorbing
Sample is mixed with large excess of radiation-absorbing
matrix material
matrix material
Solution is evaporated onto solid surface
Solution is evaporated onto solid surface
Sample exposed to pulsed laser beam
Sample exposed to pulsed laser beam
- Sublimation of analyte ions
Sublimation of analyte ions
- MS spectra recorded between laser beam pulses
MS spectra recorded between laser beam pulses
40.
Low background noise
Lowbackground noise
Multiple charged ions (+2, +3)
Multiple charged ions (+2, +3)
Observe dimers trimers
Observe dimers trimers
Mechanism is not completely understood
Mechanism is not completely understood
-Matrix compound must absorb the laser radiation
Matrix compound must absorb the laser radiation
-Soluble enough in sample solvent to be present in large excess
Soluble enough in sample solvent to be present in large excess
-Analyte should not absorb laser radiation
Analyte should not absorb laser radiation
Fragmentation will occur
Fragmentation will occur
42.
Mass analyzers:
Mass analyzers:Time of Flight (TOF) Mass Analyzers
Time of Flight (TOF) Mass Analyzers
• Ions generated by bombardment of the sample with a brief pulse of:
Ions generated by bombardment of the sample with a brief pulse of:
Electrons, secondary ions, laser-generated photons
Electrons, secondary ions, laser-generated photons
Ions accelerated by electric field pulse 10
Ions accelerated by electric field pulse 103
3
to 10
to 104
4
V
V
Same frequency of ionization pulse, but lags behind
Same frequency of ionization pulse, but lags behind
• Accelerated particle enter
Accelerated particle enter field-free
field-free drift tube
drift tube
Ions enter tube with
Ions enter tube with same
same kinetic energy
kinetic energy
Ion velocity vary inversely with mass
Ion velocity vary inversely with mass
- Lighter particles arrive at detector before heavier particles
Lighter particles arrive at detector before heavier particles
- Flight times are 1 to 30
Flight times are 1 to 30
s, Limits resolution compared to
s, Limits resolution compared to
quadrupole, Less widely used than quadrupole
quadrupole, Less widely used than quadrupole
- Advantages: unlimited mass range, rapid data acquisition,
Advantages: unlimited mass range, rapid data acquisition,
simplicity, ruggedness, ease of access to ion source
simplicity, ruggedness, ease of access to ion source
43.
Time-of-Flight (TOF) MSis a pulsed MS. It has a simple
construction, consisting of an accelerator, a field-free region, a
reflectron and detector inside a high vacuum chamber called a
flight tube
TOF MS separates and detects ions of different m/z by measuring
the time taken for the ions to travel through a field-free region.
First, ions generated in an ionization unit are accumulated and
introduced in pulses to a flight tube. These ions are accelerated
by applying a high acceleration voltage between the electrodes.
The corresponding kinetic energy is obtained.
Given a constant acceleration voltage as well as kinetic energy,
each ion flies at its unique velocity inside the flight tube to reach
the ion detector, which is higher for ions with smaller masses and
lower for ions with larger masses.
44.
Time of flight(T) is proportional to the
square root of m/z, i.e. for a fixed flight
distance (L), ions with smaller m/z reach the
detector sooner than those with larger m/z.
Therefore, by keeping all other parameters
constant, the time of flight (T) can be
converted directly to m/z, which is how a
mass spectrum is generated in a TOF MS.
Since there is no limit to the time of flight in
TOF MS, it can theoretically measure an
unlimited mass range.
This analytical technique has been
extremely useful for proteomics using
MALDI-TOF MS systems, where proteins
are identified by comparing measurements
of fragmented peptides with a database
45.
Mass analyzers:
Mass analyzers:
•Quadrupole mass analyzer
Quadrupole mass analyzer
More compact, less expensive, rugged
More compact, less expensive, rugged
High scan rate
High scan rate
spectrum in < 100ms
spectrum in < 100ms
• Four parallel cylindrical rods serve as electrodes
Four parallel cylindrical rods serve as electrodes
Opposite rods are connected electrically
Opposite rods are connected electrically
- One pair attached to positive side of variable dc source
One pair attached to positive side of variable dc source
- One pair attached to negative side of variable dc source
One pair attached to negative side of variable dc source
Variable radio-frequency ac potential applied to each pair
Variable radio-frequency ac potential applied to each pair
of rods
of rods
• Ions accelerated through space between rods
Ions accelerated through space between rods
Potential of 5 to 10 V, ac and dc voltages increased
Potential of 5 to 10 V, ac and dc voltages increased
simultaneously with ratio being constant. All ions without
simultaneously with ratio being constant. All ions without
specific
specific m/z
m/z strike rods and become neutral
strike rods and become neutral
- only ions having a limited range of
only ions having a limited range of m
m/
/z
z reach transducer (detector)
reach transducer (detector)
46.
Striking a roddepends on:
Striking a rod depends on:
- rate of movement through rod
rate of movement through rod
- Mass to charge ratio
Mass to charge ratio
- More difficult to deflect heavy ions than lighter ions
More difficult to deflect heavy ions than lighter ions
- Prevents heavier atoms from striking rods
Prevents heavier atoms from striking rods
When a combination of the direct current voltage and high-frequency
alternating current voltage is applied to each pole, an electric field with a
rapidly varying phase is generated within the quadrupole.
Consequently, ions passing through this electric field oscillate in the x-
and ydirections. When a given set of parameters are applied to the poles,
certain ions of a specific m/z range maintain a stable oscillation and pass
through the quadrupole to reach the detector. In the contrary, the
oscillations of ions with other m/z values become unstable, causing them
47.
Mass Spectrometry
Mass Spectrometry
AdvantagesOver Atomic Optical
Advantages Over Atomic Optical
Spectrometric
Spectrometric
• Detection limits three orders of
Detection limits three orders of
magnitude better
magnitude better
• Remarkably simple spectra that
Remarkably simple spectra that
are unique and easily
are unique and easily
interpreted
interpreted
• Ability to measure isotopic ratios
Ability to measure isotopic ratios
Disadvantages
Disadvantages
• Instrument costs are two to
Instrument costs are two to
three times higher
three times higher
• Interference effects
Interference effects