Gas Dynamic Virtual Nozzle Sprayer for an Introduction of Liquid Samples in Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometry

0569878 - ÚOCHB 2024 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Kloudová, Barbora - Strmeň, Timotej - Vrkoslav, Vladimír - Chára, Zdeněk - Pačes, Ondřej - Cvačka, Josef
Gas Dynamic Virtual Nozzle Sprayer for an Introduction of Liquid Samples in Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometry.
Analytical Chemistry. Roč. 95, č. 8 (2023), s. 4196-4203. ISSN 0003-2700. E-ISSN 1520-6882
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA20-09126S
Institutional support: RVO:61388963 ; RVO:67985874
Keywords : droplets * generation * interface
OECD category: Analytical chemistry; Fluids and plasma physics (including surface physics) (UH-J)
Impact factor: 7.4, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05349

Electrospray may exhibit inadequate ionization efficiency in some applications. In such cases, atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and photoionization (APPI) can be used. Despite a wide application potential, no APCI and APPI sources dedicated to very low sample flow rates exist on the market. Since the ion source performance depends on the transfer of analytes from the liquid to the gas phase, a nebulizer is a critical component of an ion source. Here, we report on the nebulizer with a gas dynamic virtual nozzle (GDVN) and its applicability in APCI at microliter-per-minute flow rates. Nebulizers differing by geometrical parameters were fabricated and characterized regarding the jet breakup regime, droplet size, droplet velocity, and spray angle for liquid flow rates of 0.75-15.0 μL/min. A micro-APCI source with the GDVN nebulizer behaved as a mass-flow-sensitive detector and provided stable and intense analyte signals. Compared to a classical APCI source, an order of magnitude lower detection limit for verapamil was achieved. Mass spectra recorded with the nebulizer in dripping and jetting modes were almost identical and did not differ from normal APCI spectra. Clogging never occurred during the experiments, indicating the high robustness of the nebulizer. Low-flow-rate APCI and APPI sources with a GDVN sprayer promise new applications for low- and medium-polar analytes.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0341217