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Updated: Apr 27, 2026
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An Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Setup to Investigate the Reactive Species Formation
Published on: November 3, 2016
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Plasma-spray ionization (PLASI): a multimodal atmospheric pressure ion source for liquid stream analysis
Adam Kaylor1, Prabha Dwivedi, Jennifer J Pittman
1School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0400, USA.
Summary
A novel plasma-spray ionization (PLASI) method enables direct liquid analysis, overcoming electrospray ionization limitations for real-time monitoring in complex samples and diverse solvents.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Mass Spectrometry
- Plasma Physics
Background:
- Electrospray ionization (ESI) has limitations for direct liquid analysis.
- Real-time process stream analysis and reaction monitoring require advanced techniques.
- Non-ESI friendly solvents and complex matrices pose analytical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce plasma-spray ionization (PLASI) as a new method for direct liquid stream analysis.
- Address analytical limitations of ESI and enable real-time monitoring.
- Demonstrate PLASI's potential in non-ESI friendly scenarios and complex matrices.
Main Methods:
- Pneumatic nebulization of liquid streams at low voltages.
- Entrainment of aerosol with a gaseous plasma plume from a glow discharge.
- Mass spectrometry (MS) detection of ionized aerosols.
- Multimodal operation allowing switching between plasma and ESI ionization.
Main Results:
- PLASI overcomes ESI-MS limitations.
- PLASI generates simpler mass spectra with minimal adducts and clusters.
- Operates effectively below ESI threshold for plasma ionization, or at/above for ESI.
- Analyzes analytes in complex matrices and less-restricted solvent systems.
Conclusions:
- PLASI offers a flexible alternative to ESI for direct liquid analysis.
- The technique facilitates real-time process stream analysis and reaction monitoring.
- PLASI enhances analytical capabilities for diverse applications in chemistry and beyond.
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