Simple Pretreatment for the Analysis of Additives and Polymers by Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Using a Through-Hole Alumina Membrane as a Functional Substrate

• Published in: Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 2020-02, Vol.31 (2), p.298-307
• Main Authors: Sato, Hiroaki, Nakamura, Sayaka, Fouquet, Thierry N. J, Ohmura, Takayuki, Kotani, Masahiro, Naito, Yasuhide
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1044-0305; 1879-1123
• DOI: 10.1021/jasms.9b00048

The analysis of additives and polymers was performed by desorption ionization using through-hole alumina membrane (DIUTHAME) as a functional substrate for both sample pretreatment and surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) mass spectrometry. Using the unique absorbing/filtering capabilities of DIUTHAME and investigating the solubility of analytes/bulk materials in some solvents, three pretreatment techniques were demonstrated with (1) the selective removal of hydrophilic poly­(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based components from a “PEO-monostearate” sample, (2) the on-chip filtration of solubilized decabromodiphenylether (DBDE) from a solution of polystyrene that had been preliminarily precipitated, and (3) the on-chip extraction of antioxidants (Irganox 1010, Irgafos 168, and dimyristyl 3,3′-thiodipropionate) from a suspension of polypropylene powder or from the powder itself. The extracted analytes were further mass-analyzed using a spiral high-resolution time-of-flight analyzer to assess their elemental composition or molecular distribution.