Analysis of nitrogen‐based explosives with desorption atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

DAPPI could become an important method for the direct analysis of nitroaromatics from a variety of surfaces. For compounds that are thermally labile, or that have very low vapor pressure, however, DESI is better suited.

Analytical Validation of a Portable Mass Spectrometer Featuring Interchangeable, Ambient Ionization Sources for High Throughput Forensic Evidence Screening

“…are known for their accuracy, broad applicability, and court admissibility [8,11,12], throughput is hindered by the required preparative steps and overall duty cycle. Ambient MS techniques [13,14], which increase sample throughput by forgoing extensive sample preparations, have shown proficiency in forensic chemical analysis [15][16][17], with recent reports involving the analysis of biofluids [18,19], explosives [20], adulterated foodstuffs [21], mind-altering plant-based evidence [22], and simultaneous molecular/elemental composition [23]. Specific techniques like desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) [24], direct analysis in real time (DART) [25], and paper spray ionization (PSI) [26,27] have shown utility in both trace and bulk drug evidence analysis, particularly in combatting the rise of Bdesigner drugs^evidence and accommodating associated paraphernalia [28].…”

Hand-Held Femtogram Detection of Hazardous Picric Acid with Hydrophobic Ag Nanopillar SERS Substrates and Mechanism of Elasto-Capillarity

“…For a brief comparison with the in-laboratory gold standard for everything difficult to measure mass-spectrometry, which quite commonly achieves detection limits in the femtogram range, however, with a quick overview of literature picogram detection of Picric acid was the best to be found. 14 Top: profile SEM image of the Ag nanopillar substrates. Illustrated on top is an evaporating water droplet.…”

Recent advances in ambient mass spectrometry of trace explosives

“…While DAPPI performs well with nitroaromatics, it exhibits difficulties with nitrate esters and nitramines. 145 Nevertheless, ambient MS also enables manipulation of the ion chemistry, which is often exploited by adding reagents or dopants. Common nitramines and nitrate esters typically ionize by adduct formation, an aspect Kuappila et al employed to enhance sensitivity for the detection of these compounds by adding dopants to the DAPPI spray solvent.…”

“…Common nitramines and nitrate esters typically ionize by adduct formation, an aspect Kuappila et al employed to enhance sensitivity for the detection of these compounds by adding dopants to the DAPPI spray solvent. 145 Manipulation of ion chemistry is used widely for a range of ambient MS platforms. Improvements in sensitivity of DESI-MS for nitrate based explosives has been increased up to an order of magnitude in cases, down to tens of picograms, 104 through the addition of chloride containing species in the spray solvent (Figure 1).…”