Investigating the Applicability of Direct Analysis and Ion Motility TOF MS for Environmental Analysis

This application note investigates the use of Direct Analysis (DA) combined with ion mobility separation (IMS) and mass spectrometry (MS). This particular case examines samples that are directly infused and evaluates the benefits of IMS. DA/IMS/MS offers a route to rapidly screen for known pesticides with minimal sample preparation. The mobility separation is combined with the specificity of accurate mass measurement <1 ppm, as well as the ability to obtain MS/MS structural elucidation data on the mobility resolved analytes. Results illustrating how mobility resolution is used to distinguish four pesticides with the same nominal mass, demonstrating how molecule shape can be used to produce mobility separation and separation power is enhanced by using CO₂ as the mobility drift gas.