title: Flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow combined with laser ablation for direct analysis of compounds separated by thin-layer chromatography.
abstract: A thin-layer chromatography-mass spectrometry (TLC-MS) setup for characterization of low molecular weight compounds separated on standard TLC plates has been constructed. This new approach successfully combines TLC separation, laser ablation, and ionization using flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow (FAPA) source. For the laser ablation, a low-priced 445-nm continuous-wave diode laser pointer, with a power of 1 W, was used. The combination of the simple, low-budget laser pointer and the FAPA ion source has made this experimental arrangement broadly available, also for small laboratories. The approach was successfully applied for the characterization of low molecular weight compounds separated on TLC plates, such as a mixture of pyrazole derivatives, alkaloids (nicotine and sparteine), and an extract from a drug tablet consisting of paracetamol, propyphenazone, and caffeine. The laser pointer used was capable of ablating organic compounds without the need of application of any additional substances (matrices, staining, etc.) on the TLC spots. The detection limit of the proposed method was estimated to be 35 ng/cm(2) of a pyrazole derivative.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Umultowska 89b, 61-614, Poznań, Poland. ceglowski.m@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cegłowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Neurobiology, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smoluch
authors.affiliation: ERTEC-Poland, Rogowska 146/5, 54-440, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reszke
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Neurobiology, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Kraków, Poland.|Center of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 34, 41-819, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silberring
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Umultowska 89b, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schroeder
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011720:Pyrazoles; C031280:pyrazole
keywords: Ambient ionization; Flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow; Laser ablation; Mass spectrometry; Thin-layer chromatography