Method development, novel applications and fundamental studies of ambient ionization methods: Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and low temperature plasma (LTP) ionization

Ayanna U Jackson, Purdue University

Abstract

Ambient ionization is a novel field in mass spectrometry. Ambient ionization methods are promising as they permit direct analysis of samples in their native environment with minimal sample preparation. The first part of my dissertation research focused on the application of two particular ambient ionization methods to various chemical systems. These experiments have included systematic and proof-of-concept analyses in the areas of biology (analysis of drugs of abuse in high salt matrix), microbiology (analysis of targeted analytes in bacterial matrix and development of high-throughput screen targeting biosynthesized analytes), and agriculture (direct analysis of leaves) using the methods of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and supplemented by extractive electrospray ionization (EESI) in select studies. DESI and the low temperature plasma (LTP) probe, a recently developed plasma ambient ionization source, were both explored in the direct analysis and derivation of olefin molecules. Fundamental studies to investigate the LTP probe were performed for the new source. Elaboration of the LTP ionization mechanism was derived from fundamental optical emission studies investigating various emission profiles of the low temperature plasma. LTP was also used to evaluate matrix effects and forensic applications in the analysis of drugs of abuse from biological matrices. In summary, my dissertation work has focused on method development and applications as well as fundamental studies which illustrate the robust capabilities of ambient ionization mass spectrometry methods.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Cooks, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Analytical chemistry

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