title: Interfaces to connect thin-layer chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
abstract: This study has developed two interfaces to connect small-size thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ES-MS) for the continuous analysis of organic mixtures. The interfaces are (1) two bound optical fibers inserted into the C18-bonded particles at the exit of a small TLC channel and (2) a small commercial TLC strip with a sharpened tip. A reservoir continuously supplied a makeup solution to the tip of the TLC channel. The high voltage required for electrospray ionization was introduced into the makeup solution or mobile phase through a Pt wire, and electrospray was generated at the tip of the bonded optical fibers and at the sharp end of the TLC strip. Since small-size TLC channels were used, the elution time was short and less than 0.2 microL of the sample solution and 200 microL of the eluting solvent were required. Organic mixtures were separated successfully and detected on-line using the TLC/ES-MS techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Feng-Liu
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chun-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jentaie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shiea
mesh_terms: D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds