Porous graphite sheet spray ionization ion mobility spectrometry

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectrometry

Background:

• Conventional electrospray ionization sources often utilize hollow needles.
• Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a powerful analytical technique for separating ions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a porous graphite sheet as a novel substrate for a spray ionization source in IMS.
• To evaluate the performance and advantages of this new ionization source compared to conventional methods.

Main Methods:

• A porous graphite sheet was treated with hot sulfuric acid to create a hydrophilic surface.
• Optimization of key parameters including graphite voltage, methanol flow rate, gas flow rate, tip angle, and distance to the counter electrode.
• Analysis of test compounds (imipramine, diclofenac, codeine, morphine, ethion) in both positive and negative modes.

Main Results:

• The optimized conditions yielded efficient ionization.
• The porous graphite sheet spray ionization source demonstrated capability in both positive and negative ionization modes.
• Satisfactory results were obtained for the analysis of various chemical compounds.

Conclusions:

• The porous graphite sheet spray ionization source is a viable and advantageous alternative for IMS.
• This new method is suitable for routine analysis of chemical compounds, offering convenience and reliability.