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Corona discharge in charge reduction electrospray mass spectrometry
D D Ebeling1, M S Westphall, M Scalf
1Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706, USA.
Analytical Chemistry
|November 18, 2000
Summary
Corona discharge effectively reduces ion charge in electrospray mass spectrometry, simplifying complex biological molecule analysis. This method avoids radioactive materials, offering a safer alternative for charge reduction in ESI-MS.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Mass Spectrometry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is crucial for analyzing biological molecules.
- High charge states in ESI-MS complicate spectra analysis.
- Previous charge reduction methods utilized radioactive isotopes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel charge reduction technique for ESI-MS.
- To simplify mass spectra of complex biological mixtures.
- To offer a non-radioactive alternative for ion charge reduction.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing corona discharge to generate neutralizing ions.
- Controlling corona discharge voltage to manage current and charge reduction.
- Employing electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for detection.
Main Results:
- Achieved significant reduction in ion charge states.
- Predominantly singly charged ions were generated.
- Simplified ESI mass spectra were obtained for complex mixtures.
Conclusions:
- Corona discharge provides an effective, non-radioactive method for charge reduction in ESI-MS.
- This technique simplifies spectral analysis of biological molecules.
- The method is compatible with commercial ESI-TOF mass spectrometers.