Criticality of Spray Solvent Choice on the Performance of Next Generation, Spray-Based Ambient Mass Spectrometric Ionization Sources: A Case Study Based on Synthetic Cannabinoid Forensic Evidence

Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a highly selective and sensitive analytical tool with a myriad of applications, but such techniques are typically used in laboratory settings due to the handling and preparations that are necessary. The merging of two streams of robust research, portable MS systems and next-generation ambient ionization methods, now provides the ability to perform high-performance chemical screening in an on-site and on-demand manner, with natural applications in disciplines such as forensic science, where samples of interest are typically found in field environments (i.e., traffic stops, crime scenes, etc.). Correspondingly, investigations regarding the suitability and robustness of these methodologies when they are utilized for authentic forensic evidence processing are prudent. This work reports critical insights into the role that choice of spray solvent system plays regarding analytical performance of two spray-based ambient ionization sources, paper spray ionization (PSI) and filter cone spray ionization (FCSI), when employed for evidence types containing emerging synthetic cannabinoids. The systematic characterization studies reported herein show that the applied spray solvent can dramatically affect both spectral intensity and signal duration, and in some circumstances, yield deleterious false negative responses. Overall, acetonitrile-based systems are shown to strike a balance between analyte solubility concerns and spray ionization dynamics of the novel ion sources employed on portable MS systems.