The Encyclopedia of Mass Spectrometry: Volume 6: Ionization Methods

Volume 6: Ionization Methods captures the story of molecular ionization and its phenomenal evolution that makes mass spectrometry the powerful method it is today. Chapters 1 and 2 cover fundamentals and various issues that are common to all ionization (e.g., accurate mass, isotope clusters, and derivatization).

Chapters 3-9 acknowledge that some ionization methods are appropriate for gas-phase molecules and others for molecules that are in the solid or liquid states. Chapters 3-6 cover gas-phase molecules, dividing the subject into: (1) ionization of gas-phase molecules by particles (e.g., EI), (2) ionization by photons, (3) ionization by ion-molecule and molecule-molecule reactions (e.g., APCI and DART), and ionization in Strong electric fields (i.e., Electrohydrodynamic and Field Ionization/Desorption).

"Ionization in a Strong Electric Field" illustrates the transition to ionization of molecules in the solid or liquid states, covered in Chapters 7-9: (1) spray methods for ionization (e.g., electrospray), (2) desorption ionization by particle bombardment (e.g., FAB), and (3) desorption by photons (e.g., MALDI). Electrospray and MALDI also lead to applications in biophysical chemistry, the theme of Chapter 10.

Chapter 11 reconsiders ionization from the view of choosing an ionization method. The range of subjects is from ionization of organic and biomolecules to the study of microorganisms.

Reviews range of ionization methods used in mass spectrometry todayIncludes tutorials describing the principles and instrumentation applied to each methodConsiders appropriate methods of ionization for analysis of various substances

1. Fundamentals of Ionization
2. General Considerations for Ionization
3. Ionization of Gas-Phase Molecules by Particles and at High Temperature: Electron Ionization (EI), Positron Ionization, and Surface Ionization Organic MS
4. Ionization of Gas-Phase Molecules by Photons: Photoionization (PI), Photoelectron Spectroscoy (PES) and Laser Ionization
5. Ionization by Ion-Molecule and Molecule-Molecule Reactions: Chemical Ionization (CI), Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI), and DART
6. Ionization in Strong Electric Field
7. Spray Methods for Ionization
8. Desorption Ionization by Particle Bombardment: SIMS, Fast Atom Bombardment, and High-Energy Bems
9. Desorption by Photons: Laser Desorption and Matridx-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI)
10. Biophysical Application of Desorption and Spray Ionization
11. Choice of Ionization for Analysis of Various Substances