Trace-fiber color discrimination by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: A tool for the analysis of dyes extracted to submillimeter nylon fibers

The application of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to trace-fiber color analysis is explored using acidic dyes commonly employed to color nylon-based fibers, as well as extracts from dyed nylon fibers. Qualitative information about constituent dyes and quantitative information abo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAnalytical chemistry (Washington) Vol. 75; no. 11; p. 2753
Main Authors Tuinman, Albert A, Lewis, Linda A, Lewis, Samuel A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington American Chemical Society 01.06.2003
Subjects
Color
Dyes
Fiber optics
Fibers
Ions
Nylon
Spectrum analysis
Trace elements
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Summary:The application of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to trace-fiber color analysis is explored using acidic dyes commonly employed to color nylon-based fibers, as well as extracts from dyed nylon fibers. Qualitative information about constituent dyes and quantitative information about the relative amounts of those dyes present on a single fiber become readily available using this technique. Sample requirements for establishing the color identity of different samples (i.e., comparative trace-fiber analysis) are shown to be submillimeter. Absolute verification of dye mixture identity (beyond the comparison of molecular weights derived from ESI-MS) can be obtained by expanding the technique to include tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). For dyes of unknown origin, the ESl-MS/MS analyses may offer insights into the chemical structure of the compound information not available from chromatographic techniques alone. This research demonstrates that ESI-MS is viable as a sensitive technique for distinguishing dye constituents extracted from a minute amount of trace-fiber evidence. A protocol is suggested to establish/refute the proposition that two fibers-one of which is available in minute quantity only-are of the same origin. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0003-2700
1520-6882