ARS | Publication request: On-probe pyrolysis desorption ecectrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry for the analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products

Submitted to: Journal of Analytical & Applied Pyrolysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 18, 2007
Publication Date: April 24, 2007
Repository URL: http://sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6TG7-4NJW
Citation: Zhang, S., Shin, Y., Mayer, R.T., Basile, F. 2007. On-probe pyrolysis desorption ecectrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry for the analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products. J. of Analytical & Applied Pyrolysis. Online.

Interpretive Summary: Mass spectral methods can offer speed and precision in the simultaneous analysis different sample components. Recently it has been possible to adapt mass spectrometric (MS) techniques for sample analyses at ambient temperatures. A number of ambient ionization methods for MS analysis have been introduced, but most notable are the direct analysis in real-time (DART) and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) techniques. This article describes the development of an on-probe pyrolyzer interfaced to a DESI source as a novel in situ and rapid pyrolysis technique to investigate non-volatile pyrolytic residues by MS and MS/MS analyses. The utility of the technique is demonstrated with the analysis of several biological samples and a synthetic polymer.

Technical Abstract: An on-probe pyrolyzer has been constructed and interfaced with desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry (MS) for the rapid analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products. The detection and analysis of non-volatile pyrolysis products of peptides, proteins and the synthetic polymer poly(ethylene glycol) were demonstrated with this instrument. The on-probe pyrolyzer can be operated off-line or on-line with the DESI source and was interfaced with a tandem MS (MS/MS) instrument, which allowed for structure characterization of the non-volatile pyrolytic products. Advantages of this system are its simplicity and speed of analysis since the pyrolysis is performed in situ on the DESI source probe and hence, it avoids extraction steps and/or the use of matrices (e.g., as in MALDI–MS analyses).