Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a sulfolane matrix

• Published in: Rapid communications in mass spectrometry Vol. 15; no. 16; pp. 1448 - 1452
• Main Authors: Jackson, Shelley N., Murray, Kermit K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.01.2001
• Subjects: Anthracenes - chemistry; Benz(a)Anthracenes - chemistry; Benzo(a)pyrene - chemistry; Indicators and Reagents; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - chemistry; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization - methods; Thiophenes
• ISSN: 0951-4198; 1097-0231
• DOI: 10.1002/rcm.389

Infrared matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (IR‐MALDI) of the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene was performed using a 10.6‐µm CO2 laser and a liquid matrix. Sulfolane (tetrahydrothiophene 1,1‐dioxide) was found to be an effective matrix for PAH ionization: mass spectra obtained with a sulfolane matrix contain an intense molecular ion peak; interference from PAH fragment and matrix peaks is negligible in all cases. The main limitation of the sulfolane matrix is sample evaporation after 3 to 5 min in vacuum. This sample lifetime can be increased to between 15 and 30 min using a 2:1 (v/v) mixture of sulfolane and glycerol, but the resulting spectra have greater matrix interference and decreased shot‐to‐shot signal stability. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.