Chemical ionization
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Chemical ionization (CI) is an ionization technique used in mass spectrometry.[1][2][3] Chemical ionization is a lower energy process than electron ionization. The lower energy yields less fragmentation, and usually a simpler spectra. A typical CI spectra has an easily identifiable molecular ion.[4]
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[edit] How it works
In a CI experiment, ions are produced through the collision of the analyte with ions of a reagent gas that are present in the ion source. Some common reagent gases include: methane, ammonia, and isobutane. Inside the ion source, the reagent gas is present in large excess compared to the analyte. Electrons entering the source will preferentially ionize the reagent gas. The resultant collisions with other reagent gas molecules will create an ionization plasma. Positive and negative ions of the analyte are formed by reactions with this plasma.[4]
[edit] Primary Ion Formation:
[edit] Secondary Reagent Ions:
[edit] Product Ion Formation:
![M + CH_5^+ \to CH_4 + [M + H]^+](http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/b/0/8/b080193dcb78a85fbec6fedb2cc0a0b7.png)
(protonation)
(H − abstraction)
![M + CH_5^+ \to [M+ CH_5]^+](http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/6/e/d/6ed9b9442f2fde4897680eef7a4af7f0.png)
(adduct formation)
(charge exchange)
[edit] Variations
[edit] Gas phase chemical ionization
Chemical ionization for gas phase analysis is either positive or negative.
[edit] Negative chemical ionization (NCI)
In order to see a response by this method, the analyte must be capable of producing a negative ion (able to stabilize a negative charge). Because not all analytes can do this, using NCI provides a certain degree of selectivity that is not available with other, more universal ionization techniques (EI, PCI). NCI can be used for the analysis of compounds containing acidic groups or electronegative elements (especially halogens).[4]
Because of the high electronegativity of halogen atoms, NCI is a common choice for their analysis. This includes many groups of compounds, such as PCBs[5], pesticides[6], and fire retardants.[7] Most of these compounds are environmental contaminants, thus much of the NCI analysis that takes place is done under the auspices of environmental analysis.
[edit] Positive chemical ionization (PCI)
Almost all neutral analytes can form positive ions through the reactions described above.
[edit] Liquid phase chemical ionization
Chemical ionization in an atmospheric pressure electric discharge is called atmospheric pressure chemical ionization.
[edit] References
- ^ Munson, M.S.B.; Field, F.H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1966, 88, 2621-2630. Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry. I. General Introduction.
- ^ Fales HM, Milne GW, Pisano JJ, Brewer HB, Blum MS, MacConnell JG, Brand J, Law N (1972). "Biological applications of electron ionization and chemical ionization mass spectrometry". Recent Prog. Horm. Res. 28: 591–626. PMID 4569234.
- ^ Dougherty RC (1981). "Negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry: applications in environmental analytical chemistry". Biomed. Mass Spectrom. 8 (7): 283–92. doi:. PMID 7025931.
- ^ a b c de Hoffmann, Edmond; Vincent Stroobant (2003). Mass Spectrometry: Principles and Applications, Second, Toronto: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 14. ISBN 0471485667.
- ^ Kontsas, Helena; Kaija Pekari (2003-07-05). "Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in serum using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionization for exposure estimation". Journal of Chromatography B 791 (1-2): 117–125. Elsevier, Ltd.. doi:. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ Rivera-Rodríguez, Laura B.; Ricardo Rodríguez-Estrella, James Jackson Ellington and John J. Evans (2007-07). "Quantification of low levels of organochlorine pesticidesnext term using small volumes (≤100 μl) of plasma of wild birds through gas chromatography negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry". Environmental Pollution 148 (2): 654–662. Elsevier, Ltd.. doi:. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
- ^ Lacorte, Sylvia; Míriam Guillamon. "Validation of a pressurized solvent extraction and GC–NCI–MSnext term method for the low level determination of 40 polybrominated diphenyl ethers in mothers’ milk". Chemosphere. Elsevier, Ltd.. Retrieved on 2008-06-26.
