The Electrospray (ESI) and Flowing Atmosphere-Pressure Afterglow (FAPA) Mass Spectrometry Studies of Nitrophenols (Plant Growth Stimulants) Removed Using Strong Base-Functionalized Materials

Abstract

The functional silica-based materials functionalized with a strong nitrogen base TBD (SiO2-TBD) deposited via a linker or with a basic poly(amidoamine) dendrimer containing multiple terminal amine groups -NH2 (SiO2-EDA) and functional polymers containing a strong phosphazene base (Polymer-Phosphazene) or another basic poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PMVEAMA-PAMAM) were tested as sorbents dedicated to a mixture of nitrophenols (p-nitrophenol and 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenol), which are analogs of nitrophenols used in plant growth biostimulants. The adsorptive potential of the studied materials reached 0.102, 0.089, 0.140, and 0.074 g of the nitrophenols g−1, for SiO2-TBD, SiO2-EDA, polymer-phosphazene, and PMVEAMA-PAMAM, respectively. The sorptive efficiency of the analytes, i.e., their adsorption on the functional materials, the desorption from the obtained [(sorbent)H+ − nitrophenolates–] complexes, and interactions with the used soil, were monitored using mass spectrometry (MS) technique with electrospray (ESI) and flowing atmosphere-pressure afterglow (FAPA) ionizations, for the analysis of the aqueous solutions and the solids, respectively. The results showed that the adsorption/desorption progress is determined by the structures of the terminal basic domains anchored to the materials, which are connected with the strength of the proton exchange between the sorbents and nitrophenols. Moreover, the conducted comprehensive MS analyses, performed for both solid and aqueous samples, gave a broad insight into the interactions of the biostimulants and the presented functional materials.

Development and application of a novel mass spectrometry ionization source for biological chemistry

“…D FA 1000 n the en capilla ature was chain and observed s allowed nately, the were not we were ower temn [24]. We pt away in rapid desn gas temto observe rk we will hromatogt leads to ion source n our labinvolving sitive and on a Xevo the Glow laboratory ption [24], per would good smaompounds ctrometer [26]). The ecules and ve plasma or molecrce will be ential for d be easily d ambient a range of on a XeY spectromcation lies into the…”

“…In answer to the question posed: it is most likely fiction to assume that a single source may achieve this goal. However, a multimodal solution may be the answer and several researchers have investigated combing two or more sources to broaden the types of analytes that can be ionised in a single analysis [24,25,26] suggesting a possible solution.…”