Date of Award

January 2014

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Hilkka I Kenttämaa

Committee Member 1

Scott A. McLuckey

Committee Member 2

Chengde Mao

Committee Member 3

Yu Xia

Abstract

Due to the high sensitivity, selectivity and speed, mass spectrometry (MS) has proved to be an invaluable tool for mixture analysis and structural elucidation of mixture components. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) utilizing collision-activated dissociation (CAD) has become the technique of choice for structural elucidation of unknown analytes. The coupling of MS/MS with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has allowed trace level analysis of components in very complex mixtures. Analysis of mixtures of lignin degradation products is a problematic area for mass spectrometry due to the highly complex lignin linkages present. Hence, study of lignin model compounds with varies linkage types is very helpful for the structural elucidation of unnknown lignins. Gas phase ion-molecule reaction can be useful in study of reaction kinetics and mechanism and even in probing the functional groups in unknown molecules. The functional group selective ion-molecule reaction has great potential for unknown drug metabolite identification

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