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Utilizing Time‐lag Focusing Matrix‐assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry for the End Group Analysis of Synthetic Polymers
Author(s) -
Jackson Anthony T.,
Yates Hilary T.,
Lindsay Chris I.,
Didier Yves,
Segal John A.,
Scrivens James H.,
Critchley Glenn,
Brown Jeff
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0231(199703)11:5<520::aid-rcm821>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - chemistry , mass spectrometry , desorption , polymer , matrix (chemical analysis) , analytical chemistry (journal) , group (periodic table) , chromatography , organic chemistry , adsorption
Time‐lag focusing matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry has been employed to analyse synthetic polymers with average molecular weights between approximately 3500 and 12 500 Da. Spectra are shown that demonstrate the improvement in resolution and sensitivity when time‐lag focusing is used instead of prompt extraction techniques. A resolution of almost 9000 (full width at half maximum) was obtained, in the reflectron mode of operation, for a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) sample with a relatively narrow range of molecular weights. The data for PMMA polymers of industrial relevance easily enable the differentiation of many end groups as a consequence of the improved signal‐to‐noise ratio and the good mass accuracy when time‐lag focusing is employed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.