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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Sample Preparation for Probe Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Sample Preparation for Probe Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Published on: February 19, 2020

Electrospray ionization using wooden tips.

Bin Hu¹, Pui-Kin So, Huanwen Chen

¹State Key Laboratory for Chirosciences and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administration Region, China.

Analytical Chemistry

|September 20, 2011

Summary

This study introduces a cost-effective electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) method using disposable wooden tips for sample loading and ionization. This simple technique enhances sample analysis across diverse fields, including forensics.

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Area of Science:

Analytical Chemistry
Mass Spectrometry

Background:

Electrospray ionization (ESI) is a crucial mass spectrometry (MS) technique utilized across chemistry, biology, medicine, pharmaceuticals, clinical diagnostics, and forensic science.
Conventional ESI methods can be limited by sample type and require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a simple, economical, and versatile ESI-MS technique using readily available wooden materials.
To demonstrate the applicability of wooden tips for direct sample loading and ionization in MS analysis.

Main Methods:

Utilized disposable wooden tips (e.g., toothpicks) for sample loading via pipetting or dipping.
Connected wooden tips directly to nano-ESI ion sources of mass spectrometers.
Applied high voltage to the wooden tip to generate electrospray ionization and acquire mass spectra.

Main Results:

Successfully obtained desirable mass spectra from various sample types, including organic compounds, organometallic compounds, peptides, and proteins.
Demonstrated applicability to challenging samples like slurries and powders, not easily analyzed by conventional ESI.
Highlighted the potential for forensic applications due to the wooden tip's slim and hard properties for targeted sampling.

Conclusions:

The wooden tip ESI-MS technique offers a simple, economical, and effective alternative for mass spectrometric analysis.
This method broadens the scope of samples amenable to ESI-MS, including difficult matrices.
The findings provide new insights into materials suitable for direct ionization in mass spectrometry.