Trace detection of organic compounds in complex sample matrixes by single photon ionization ion trap mass spectrometry: real-time detection of security-relevant compounds and online analysis of the coffee-roasting process.

An in-house-built ion trap mass spectrometer combined with a soft ionization source has been set up and tested. As ionization source, an electron beam pumped vacuum UV (VUV) excimer lamp (EBEL) was used for single-photon ionization. It was shown that soft ionization allows the reduction of fragmentation of the target analytes and the suppression of most matrix components. Therefore, the combination of photon ionization with the tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) capability of an ion trap yields a powerful tool for molecular ion peak detection and identification of organic trace compounds in complex matrixes. This setup was successfully tested for two different applications. The first one is the detection of security-relevant substances like explosives, narcotics, and chemical warfare agents. One test substance from each of these groups was chosen and detected successfully with single photon ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (SPI-ITMS) MS/MS measurements. Additionally, first tests were performed, demonstrating that this method is not influenced by matrix compounds. The second field of application is the detection of process gases. Here, exhaust gas from coffee roasting was analyzed in real time, and some of its compounds were identified using MS/MS studies.

Application of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry and different types of data analysis for the investigation of cigarette particulate matter.

In tobacco research, the comparison of different tobacco blends as well as the puff-dependent behaviour of cigarettes is a matter of particular interest. For the investigation of smoke characteristics, GC x GC offers different ways for data analysis, namely, compound target analysis, automated peak-based compound classification and comprehensive pixel-based data analysis. This study will show the application as well as the pros and cons of these types of data analysis for very complex matrices like cigarette particulate matter. In addition, new aspects about the recently discovered puff-dependent behaviour of compounds in cigarette smoke will be presented. Automated peak-based compound classification including mass spectrometric pattern recognition is used for the classification of tobacco particulate matter samples and the puff-dependent investigation of different compound classes. This compound group specific analysis is further reinforced by applying an even more comprehensive pixel-based analysis. This kind of analysis is used to generate fingerprints of different types of cigarettes. The combination of fast feature reduction methods like analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test with multivariate feature transformation methods like partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLSDA) for feature selection provides a powerful tool for a detailed inspection of different types of cigarettes.

Comprehensive gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry using soft and selective photoionization techniques.

The hyphenation of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revolutionized organic analysis. In GC/MS coupling, usually electron impact ionization is applied, and molecules are identified by their fragment pattern. Although mass spectrometry in principle is a separation method, it is used predominantly as a spectrometric technique. However, if soft (i.e., fragmentation-free) ionization techniques are applied, the inherent separation character of MS is emphasized, which has similarities to a GC boiling point separation. By combining polar column GC separation and fast soft ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology, a comprehensive separation of complex petrochemical samples can be obtained (GC x MS approach). Compounds of comparable physical-chemical properties are characteristically grouped together in a two-dimensional retention time-m/z representation. This resembles the separation characteristics of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) and, thus, represents a novel multidimensional separation approach. In this work, a gas chromatograph equipped with a polar separation column was coupled to a home-built laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Laser-based, single-photon ionization was used for universal soft ionization and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization for selective ionization of aromatic compounds. A novel capillary-jet inlet system was used for the coupling. Multidimensional comprehensive analysis of complex petrochemical hydrocarbon samples using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with soft and selective photo ionization sources is first demonstrated.

Thermal desorption/pyrolysis coupled with photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the analysis of molecular organic compounds and oligomeric and polymeric fractions in urban particulate matter.

Atmospheric aerosols are subject to be responsible for human health effects. In this context, besides mass and number concentration of particles, their chemical composition has gained interest recently. However, knowledge about the organic content of particulate matter is still relatively scarce; i.e., only 10-40% of compounds present in the aerosol are as yet identified. By means of a newly developed measurement technique, thermal desorption/photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS), organic species evolved from urban aerosol samples collected at Augsburg, Germany, are analyzed. Thereby, compounds desorbed according to a temperature protocol following procedures for OC/EC analysis (120, 250, and 340 degrees C as desorbing temperatures) are ionized by soft, fragmentationless resonance multiphoton ionization (REMPI) and single photon ionization (SPI), respectively. With REMPI-TOFMS, a large variety of PAH is detectable. A comprehensive analysis is enabled by adding SPI-TOFMS, which gives access to aliphatic and carbonylic hydrocarbons as well as alkanoic acids and esters. Analysis of the data showed a high abundance of phenol and guiacol as well as retene, which are known markers for wood combustion. Similar patterns were found with ash from spruce wood combustion. An increase of volatile substances at 340 degrees C gave rise to the suggestion that these compounds are re-formed by pyrolytic decomposition reactions from oligomeric, polymeric, and polyfunctional oxygenated species. This was corroborated by the investigation of the behavior of cellulose acetate, which exhibited a similar pattern in its SPI-TOFMS spectrum at 340 degrees C as the aerosol. More thorough investigations of urban aerosol and source material with respect to problems such as the mass closure of carbonaceous material, indications for source apportionment, and allotment of organic species on a molecular level to fractions of organic and elemental carbon seem feasible with this measurement method.

Quantitative puff-by-puff-resolved characterization of selected toxic compounds in cigarette mainstream smoke.

Soft single photon ionization (SPI)-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) has been applied for the quantitative puff-by-puff-resolved characterization of selected toxic species in cigarette mainstream smoke, namely, nitric oxide (NO), acetaldehyde, butadiene, acetone, isoprene, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene. The 2R4F research cigarette was investigated for whole smoke (unfiltered) and gas phase (filtered). It has been demonstrated that the existing smoking regime for total smoke analysis (smoke from a complete cigarette) features deficiencies when applied to puff-resolved measurements. This is especially the case for analysis in which a glass fiber filter is used to separate the smoke particulate and gas phases because material is desorbed from the filter and influences succeeding puffs. Regarding whole smoke measurements, succeeding puffs are affected by contamination and memory effects of the smoking machine itself, but to a lower extent. Quantitative puff-resolved smoke profiles show that the puff yields of the various constituents can differ tremendously. Most species' concentrations increase gradually with puff number, which is mainly due to the reduction in length of the cigarette. However, high yields in the first puff are observed for butadiene and isoprene, suggesting different formation mechanisms for these compounds. First results are presented in which these high yields in the first puff are mainly associated with the gaseous fraction of the smoke.

Puff-by-puff resolved characterisation of cigarette mainstream smoke by single photon ionisation (SPI)-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS): comparison of the 2R4F research cigarette and pure Burley, Virginia, Oriental and Maryland tobacco cigarettes.

Soft single photon ionisation (SPI)-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) is applied for the characterisation and comparison of puff-by-puff resolved and total yields of cigarette mainstream smoke from single tobacco type cigarettes (Virginia, Oriental, Burley, and Maryland) and the 2R4F University of Kentucky research cigarette. Puff-by-puff characteristics of various smoke components within one cigarette type as well as between different cigarette types can differ tremendously. This is demonstrated by means of a few selected compounds. Puff yields vary between 15 and 106 microm for acetaldehyde, 6 and 57 microm for NO, and between 1 and 8 microm for butadiene. Thereby, cigarettes containing 100% Oriental and Burley tobacco exhibit a very unique behaviour for the first and last puff. Different cultivation and processing methods as well as burning characteristics are most likely responsible for this. Since the 2R4F cigarette contains all four tobacco types it combines features of all of them. However, for some smoke constituents, smoking of the 2R4F reference cigarette results in exceptionally high yields which might not be attributable to the four pure tobacco types, but to other factors. In addition, comparison of the different cigarettes was also carried out by normalising the yields to puff resolved particulate matter. This procedure minimises effects caused by unequal smoke formation and represents another approach in evaluating the data.

Application of time-of-flight mass spectrometry with laser-based photoionization methods for time-resolved on-line analysis of mainstream cigarette smoke.

The application of soft photoionization mass spectrometry methods (PIMS) for cigarette mainstream smoke analysis is demonstrated. Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) at 260 nm and vacuum ultraviolet light single-photon ionization (SPI) at 118 nm were used in combination with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). An optimized smoking machine with reduced memory effects of smoke components was constructed, which in combination with the REMPI/SPI-TOFMS instrument allows PIMS smoke analysis with a time resolution of up to 10 Hz. The complementary character of both PIMS methods is demonstrated. SPI allows the detection of various aliphatic and aromatic compounds in smoke up to approximately 120 m/z while REMPI is well suited for aromatic compounds. The capability of the instrument coupled to the novel sampling system for puff-by-puff resolved measurements is demonstrated. The feasibility of using the experimental system for intrapuff smoke measurements is also shown. Two main patterns of puff-by-puff behaviors are observed for different smoke constituents. The first group exhibits a constant increase in smoke constituent yield from the first to the last puff. The second group shows a high yield of the constituent in the first puff, with lower and constant or slowly increasing yields in the following puffs. A third group cannot be clearly classified and is a combination of both observed profiles.