Synchronized dual-polarity electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
This work describes the synchronized dual-polarity (DP) electrospray ionization (ESI) method and demonstrates the first DP ESI mass spectra obtained using two mass spectrometers. Stable double Taylor cones were produced by applying two counter electric voltages with opposite polarities to one electrosprayer. The development of double Taylor cones required higher extraction voltages than conventional ESI, but DP ESI worked effectively at liquid flow rate range three times wider than conventional ESI. Using pure methanol, the emission currents of the two cones were neutralized and no current was drawn from the sprayer. Synchronized DP mass spectra were obtained using electrospray calibrants dissolved in methanol solution of low water content. For bovine insulin with conventional electrospray solution, the gas-assisted electrospray delivered satisfactory sensitivity and stability for routine mass analyses.
Chen
Han-Kwang
HK
Department of Chemistry, Chi Nan University, Nantou, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Chang
Chia-Kai
CK
Wu
Chih-Che
CC
Huang
Ming-Chia
MC
Wang
Yi-Sheng
YS
D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*