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Detection of trace ink compounds in erased handwritings using electrospray‐assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Kao YiYing,
Cheng SyChyi,
Cheng ChuNian,
Shiea Jentaie,
Ho HsiuO
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.475
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9888
pISSN - 1076-5174
DOI - 10.1002/jms.3356
Subject(s) - chemistry , mass spectrometry , chromatography , extractive electrospray ionization , electrospray ionization , electrospray , sample preparation in mass spectrometry , desorption electrospray ionization , analytical chemistry (journal) , ionization , ion , chemical ionization , organic chemistry
Writings made with erasable pens on paper surfaces can either be rubbed off with an eraser or rendered invisible by changing the temperature of the ink. However, trace ink compounds still remain in the paper fibers even after rubbing or rendering. The detection of these ink compounds from erased handwritings will be helpful in knowing the written history of the paper. In this study, electrospray‐assisted laser desorption ionization/mass spectrometry was used to characterize trace ink compounds remaining in visible and invisible ink lines. The ink compounds were desorbed from the paper surface by irradiating the handwritings with a pulsed laser beam; the desorbed analytes were subsequently ionized in an electrospray plume and detected by a quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry mass analyzer. Because of the high spatial resolution of the laser beam, electrospray‐assisted laser desorption ionization/mass spectrometry analysis resulted in minimal damage to the sample documents. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.