Abstract
Portable mass spectrometers (MS) are becoming more prevalent due to improved instrumentation, commercialization, and the robustness of new ionization methodologies. To increase utility towards diverse field-based applications, there is an inherent need for rugged ionization source platforms that are simple, yet robust towards analytical scenarios that may arise. Ambient ionization methodologies have evolved to target specific real-world problems and fulfill requirements of the analysis at hand. Ambient ionization techniques continue to advance towards higher performance, with specific sources showing variable proficiency depending on application area. To realize the full potential and applicability of ambient ionization methods, a selection of sources may be more prudent, showing a need for a low-cost, flexible ionization source platform. This manuscript describes a centralized system that was developed for portable MS systems that incorporates modular, rapidly-interchangeable ionization sources comprised of low-cost, commercially-available parts. Herein, design considerations are reported for a suite of ambient ionization sources that can be crafted with minimal machining or customization. Representative spectral data is included to demonstrate applicability towards field processing of forensic evidence. While this platform is demonstrated on portable instrumentation, retrofitting to lab-scale MS systems is anticipated.
Highlights
Portable instrumentation, such as mass spectrometry (MS), has been of increased interest to the broader scientific community due to the inherent capability of performing in-situ analyses [1,2].the smaller footprint of portable instrumentation compared to their laboratory-based,“benchtop” counterparts allows for transportation to locales of interest
Since the advent of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and direct analysis in real time (DART), the last decade has seen an influx of new ambient mass spectrometers (MS) methodologies, such as desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (DAPCI) [28,29], paper spray ionization (PSI) [30], paper cone spray ionization (PCSI) [31], swab touch spray ionization (STSI) [32], low temperature plasma (LTP) probe [33], and flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow (FAPA) [34], to identify a few
Design considerations are reported for a suite of ambient ionization sources that can be crafted with minimal machining or customization
Summary
Portable instrumentation, such as mass spectrometry (MS), has been of increased interest to the broader scientific community due to the inherent capability of performing in-situ analyses [1,2].the smaller footprint of portable instrumentation compared to their laboratory-based,“benchtop” counterparts allows for transportation to locales of interest. A review of current literature shows high activity in regards to portable MS instrumentation and application development amongst the environmental [3,4], forensic [5,6,7,8,9] and defense [10,11] communities. A major uptick in applicability of portable MS systems has been recently seen, not from major instrumental modification (e.g., vacuum system, mass analyzer), but from advances in ionization source technology, ambient ionization [14]. “ambient MS,” in which analyte ions are created in the ambient environment from unprepared samples, arose with the development of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) [15] and direct analysis in real time (DART) [16]. Since the advent of DESI and DART, the last decade has seen an influx of new ambient MS methodologies, such as desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (DAPCI) [28,29], paper spray ionization (PSI) [30], paper cone spray ionization (PCSI) [31], swab touch spray ionization (STSI) [32], low temperature plasma (LTP) probe [33], and flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow (FAPA) [34], to identify a few
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