Ionization of solvent molecules by the field evaporation of ions from glycerol and ethylene glycol solutions

Abstract

Using an electromembrane source, mass-spectrometric investigations into the field evaporation of ions from KI solutions in a water-glycerol mixture and in ethylene glycol are performed. The concentration of negatively charged solvent ions (deprotonated molecules) on the emitting surface of the liquid is determined. It is shown that, under the conditions of intense field evaporation of ions, the surface concentration of deprotonated glycerol and ethylene glycol molecules is several orders of magnitude higher than their equilibrium concentration in the absence of an electric field. The high concentration of solvent ions is associated with an increase in the autoprotolysis constant in a strong electric field.