Identification and fragmentation study of plasticizers with post-source decay matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Sándor Kéki; László Sz Szilágyi; György Deák; Miklós Zsuga

doi:10.1002/rcm.975

Identification and fragmentation study of plasticizers with post-source decay matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2003;17(8):783-7. doi: 10.1002/rcm.975.

Authors

Sándor Kéki¹, László Sz Szilágyi, György Deák, Miklós Zsuga

Affiliation

¹ Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Debrecen, 4010 Debrecen, Hungary.

PMID: 12672131
DOI: 10.1002/rcm.975

Abstract

A detailed investigation of the most commonly used plasticizers, such as phthalate, adipate and trimellitate esters, using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) and post-source decay (PSD) MALDI-TOFMS/MS is described. It is shown that PSD MALDI-TOFMS/MS is capable of unambiguous determination of the different types of plasticizers. The determination of the types of plasticizers from different PVC samples by PSD MALDI-TOFMS/MS, without the need for solvent extraction, is also demonstrated. The fragmentation mechanisms of these plasticizers cationized with protons and sodium ions are also reported.