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Volatile organic compound analysis by pulsed glow discharge time of flight mass spectrometry as a structural elucidation tool
Author(s) -
Bouza Marcos,
Fandino Jonatan,
Bordel Nerea,
Pereiro Rosario,
SanzMedel Alfredo
Publication year - 2017
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.3874
Subject(s) - chemistry , glow discharge , mass spectrometry , ionization , time of flight mass spectrometry , electron ionization , analytical chemistry (journal) , time of flight , chemical ionization , direct electron ionization liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry interface , chromatography , organic chemistry , plasma , ion , physics , quantum mechanics
This month we feature an article by Marcos Bouza and colleagues reporting on the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by pulsed glow discharge (PGD) coupled with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. This instrument configuration is presented and discussed as an alternative to the more traditional GC‐MS options that typically incorporate either an electron ionization and/or a chemical ionization source. The group highlights the flexibility of PGD to generate structural information along a continuum ‐ from constituent elements, through fragments, to intact molecular weight. Based on this study, all of this is available from the same source and under soft ionization conditions. Although limited in its scope, this study hints at the potential of pulsed glow discharge (PGD), when coupled with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, to provide a uniquely powerful, simple, compact and affordable tool for volatile analysis.