Laser Desorption/Ionization and Electrospray Ionization of Marine Natural Organic Matter: A Comparison

This poster describes a study in which marine natural organic matter (NOM) of sediment samples of different depths has been characterized by ESI- and LDI-FT-ICR mass spectrometry in negative ion mode. NOM is a very complex and polydisperse mixture of highly degraded organic compounds present in surface, ground and sediment water. The detection of compounds in NOM by mass spectrometry depends on the ionization technique. Ultra-high mass resolution of several hundred thousands is necessary to separate isobaric mass peaks of complex marine NOM samples on the molecular level. Therefore, FT-ICR mass spectrometry with high magnetic field of 12 Tesla was used for this study.