Direct chemical ionization mass spectrometry of short-chain polysaccharides

Underivatized short-chain polysaccharides such as two inulins from different plants containing up to 35-40 monosaccharide units with molecular weights of up to 6500 Da and dextran T 1.5 containing up to 16-20 monosaccharide units with molecular weights of up to 3200 Da have been investigated by direct chemical ionization. Under soft ionization conditions such as ammonia chemical ionization and reduced ion-source temperature, it was possible to obtain spectra of the native polysaccharides showing dominant ion series corresponding to ammonia adduct ions of oligosaccharides, and also ion series corresponding to ammonia adduct ions of anhydro-oligosaccharides.