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Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Sample Preparation for Probe Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: February 19, 2020
Tee-Shaped Sample Introduction Device Coupled with Direct Analysis in Real-Time Mass Spectrometry for Gaseous
Xin Geng1, Zhengyan Zhao1, Hongli Li1
1Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, China.
Abstract:
Ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS) is simple to operate for analytes adsorbed on the surface of various shaped probes. However, gaseous substances or liquids that are easy to evaporate, diffuse, and escape in the atmosphere are harder to capture. In this work, a Tee-shaped sample introduction device coupled with direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) is developed. The Tee-shaped device is placed between the DART ion source and the MS inlet with a heated sample transfer tube. Gaseous samples from either a Tedlar sampling bag or liquids evaporated from a graduated syringe were tested. The Tee-shaped device was used for several volatile organic compounds with a wide range of boiling points, and detection limits of ng/mL to fg/mL were obtained. To test the device for real-life samples, puff-by-puff analysis of a complex gaseous mainstream smoke was performed. Individual puffs can be analyzed rapidly, and there is no cross contamination between consecutive puffs. The dynamic changes of chemical components among different puffs for different types of cigarettes can be observed. This work provides a universal Tee-shaped sampling device to enhance AIMS for the analysis of volatile compounds and gases, which is adapted to different sampling modules applicable for various forms of samples. The device enables direct exploration of chemical components in complex gaseous samples without tedious sample preparation and time-consuming LC or GC separation.
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