78th Annual Workshop: Instrumentation for Forensics, Nanoscience, and Pharmaceutical Science
NSF & Center for Analytical Instrumentation Development
Purdue University September 7th-9th 2014

Paper Spray Fundamentals

Aims

Participants will explore the effect that the substrate properties and shape, solvent, applied voltage, etc. have on the MS signal and Taylor cone formation as observed in real time with a microscope.

Instructors:

Nick Manicke, Brandon Bills

Instrumentation:

Thermo LTQ Ion trap mass spectrometer

Experimental Overview:

1. Use a digital microscope to observe Taylor cone formation during paper spray MS analysis
2. Identify chemical components detecting when Taylor cone is present vs absent
3. Change substrate porosity, polarity, etc. and observe the effect on spray formation
4. Change solvent properties (such as the organic to aqueous ratio) and observe the effect on spray formation

What you will learn:

1. Basic operation of a commercial ion trap mass spectrometer
2. Concepts related to cfccttospray ionization
3. Effect of paper spray substrate and solvent on analytical performance