Comparative study of different thermospray interfaces with carbamate pesticides: Influence of the ion source geometry

Sixteen carbamate pesticides that belong to four chemical classes (oxime-N-methylcarbamates, aryl N-methylcarbamates, N-phenylcarbamates, and methyl esters of substituted carbamic acids) were investigated via three different commercially available thermospray interfaces and ion sources that exhibit wide differences in source geometry. Comparisons were made between the three interfaces with respect to ion formation and sensitivity of detection. Experimental parameters were standardized to obtain comparable experimental conditions. Very similar mass spectra for most carbamates were obtained that illustrate independence from the geometry of the ionization and desolvation chambers of the interfaces. These findings are in sharp contrast to several literature reports. However, thermally labile carbamates gave unsatisfactory results with regard to spectral compatibility between the interfaces. Such differences were due to thermally assisted hydrolysis reactions that occur in the vaporizer probe prior to ionization and reflect differences in the vaporizer designs. The study proves conclusively that comparable spectra can be obtained under thermospray with different interfaces and mass spectrometers.