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Non‐destructive plasticizer screening using a direct inlet probe‐atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source and ion trap mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Krieger Sonja,
Schmitz Oliver J.
Publication year - 2014
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.6972
Subject(s) - atmospheric pressure chemical ionization , chemistry , mass spectrometry , ion trap , plasticizer , analytical chemistry (journal) , ion source , chromatography , dart ion source , electron ionization , dimethyl phthalate , chemical ionization , ionization , ion , phthalate , organic chemistry
RATIONALE In recent years, several ambient ionization techniques, where solid and/or liquid samples are brought directly into the ion source without any sample preparation and chromatographic separation, have been introduced for mass spectrometric (MS) analyses. Using the direct inlet probe–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (DIP‐APCI)‐MS and DIP‐APCI‐MS n methods presented here, a non‐destructive screening analysis for plasticizers directly from plastic articles can be performed. METHODS The DIP‐APCI ion source developed in our laboratory uses a temperature‐programmed push rod to introduce solid or liquid samples into a homemade APCI ion source. The DIP‐APCI ion source was coupled to an ion trap (IT) mass spectrometer and selected source parameters were optimized. To enable a screening analysis for plasticizers, standards substances of several phthalates and other plasticizers were analyzed and their fragmentation behavior during collision‐induced dissociation (CID) was studied. RESULTS Using DIP‐APCI‐ITMS, plasticizers can be detected directly from plastic articles and identification is possible through MS n experiments. For example, the isomeric phthalates di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate and di‐n‐octyl phthalate can be differentiated according to their fragmentation behavior. CONCLUSIONS There are several advantages of the DIP‐APCI source in comparison to many other ambient desorption ion sources: (i) well‐defined gas phase matrix, (ii) precisely adjustable reagent gases (e.g. O 2 for negative APCI), (iii) well‐defined probe temperature, and (iv) fully automated operation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.