4 - High-resolution mass spectrometry strategies for the investigation of dissolved organic matter

Abstract

High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a powerful tool in the analysis of dissolved organic matter (DOM), but has several key features that must be understood for robust data interpretation. In this chapter, we review recent research that couples HRMS to other analytical techniques such as chromatography, ion mobility and collision-induced fragmentation, and summarize how these techniques have improved our understanding of complex environmental mixtures. We also review visualization and statistical interpretation techniques and discuss the nature of the analytical window and the ways in which the choice of sample preparation and analysis may affect results and conclusions drawn in HRMS analysis of DOM. This work is intended as a reference for aquatic scientists who want to better understand the analytical obstacles presented by complex mixture HRMS analysis as well as some of the recent analytical strategies that have been developed to deal with these problems.