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Coulomb Explosion Imaging as a Tool to Distinguish Between Stereoisomers
Published on: August 18, 2017
Electron capture ionization of explosives with a microflow rate particle beam interface
A Cappiello1, G Famiglini, A Lombardozzi
1Istituto di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Urbino, Piazza Rinascimento 6, 61029, Urbino, Italy.
Abstract:
A method for the analysis of four widely used explosives based on reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer is presented. A microflow rate particle beam interface was employed that offers simplified operation procedures and improved interfacing performance. A positive role played by the reduced size of the aerosol droplets generated by the microflow rate interface is outlined in this work. Greater vaporization efficiency and negligible thermal decomposition were observed for the selected compounds in the ion source of the mass spectrometer. Electron capture ionization allowed specific and sensitive determination of the analytes. Detection limits that ranged between 60 and 200 pg and had a signal-to-noise ratio of 5:1 were obtained in selected ion monitoring mode after column elution.
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