Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionization of Perfluorinated Compounds

Abstract

The soft ionization ability based on plasma-jet protonation of molecules initiated by a dielectric barrier discharge ionization source (DBDI) is certainly an interesting application for analytical chemistry. Since the change of an applied sinusoidal voltage may lead to different discharge modes the applied discharge was powered by a square wave generator in order to get a homogeneous plasma. It is known that besides the protonation [M+H](+) of unpolar as well as some polar molecules the homogeneous DBDI can be used to ionize molecules directly [M](+). Here we prove that the DBDI can be applied to exchange fluorine by oxygen of perfluorinated compounds (PFC). PFC are organofluorine compounds with carbon-fluorine and carbon-carbon bonds only but no carbon-hydrogen bonds. While the position of the introduction into the plasma-jet is essential, PFC can be measured in the negative mass spectrometer (MS) mode.

Mechanistic Understanding Leads to Increased Ionization Efficiency and Selectivity in Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionization Mass Spectrometry: A Case Study with Perfluorinated Compounds

“…is also formed in APCI and APPI, the additional ions were different: loss of fluorine was obtained by APPI 20 and the substitution reaction of fluorine with oxygen by APCI 21 and by DBDI 22 . PFCs are not only an interesting class of analytes for studying the ionization pathway, they are also used for many applications due to their unique properties and have a significant environmental impact [23][24][25] .…”

Screening of semifluorinated n‐alkanes by gas chromatography coupled to dielectric barrier discharge ionization mass spectrometry

“…The first technique being atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) . More recent concepts utilize atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI), atmospheric pressure laser ionization (APLI), or as applied in this study, a type of low‐temperature plasma (LTP) based on a DBD . The potential of GC/DBDI‐MS has recently been demonstrated by analysis of pesticides and illicit drugs .…”

Analyte-Tailored Controlled Atmosphere Improves Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionization Mass Spectrometry Performance

“…The calibrations were performed using a gas chromatograph coupled with MS and are shown in Figure 6a. These calibrations were compared with calibrations from ambient air DBDI 16 and the new Flexible µ-Tube Plasma (FµTP) 18 . With a DBDI source under ambient air conditions, the LODs were in the low ppm range, as shown in a previous publication 16 .…”

“…These calibrations were compared with calibrations from ambient air DBDI 16 and the new Flexible µ-Tube Plasma (FµTP) 18 . With a DBDI source under ambient air conditions, the LODs were in the low ppm range, as shown in a previous publication 16 . The FµTP improved these LODs up to 213 ppb in addition to easy and safe handling.…”