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Rotating ball inlet mass spectrometry enhanced by electrochemical effects
Author(s) -
Degn Hans,
Christensen Torben,
Sørensen René
Publication year - 2002
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/rcm.608
Subject(s) - chemistry , mass spectrometry , electrolysis , electrochemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , ball (mathematics) , chromatography , electrode , mathematical analysis , mathematics , electrolyte
The sample compartment in a rotating ball inlet mass spectrometer is made into an electrochemical cell where the rotating platinum ball can be electrically polarised relative to the sample liquid. Positive polarisation of the ball increases the mass peak intensities of weak acids and reduces those of weak bases. Negative polarisation of the ball reduces the mass peak intensities of weak acids and increases those of weak bases. These effects are caused by local changes in pH at the ball surface due to the electrolysis of water. When aliphatic alcohols are present in the sample solution positive polarisation of the ball results in the appearance of peaks due to electrochemical oxidation products of these alcohols. The effects of electric polarisation of the ball are potentially useful in the identification of analytes. Rotating ball inlet mass spectrometry with electric polarisation of the ball offers an alternative to conventional differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.