Impact of homogeneous and filamentary discharge modes on the efficiency of dielectric barrier discharge ionization mass spectrometry.

The present study contributes to the evaluation of dielectric barrier discharge-based ambient ionization for mass spectrometric analysis (DBDI-MS) by providing a further step towards an understanding of underlying ionization processes. This examination highlights the effect of physical discharge modes on the ionization efficiency of the DBDI source. A distinction is made between the homogeneous and filamentary discharge mode due to different plasma gases in barrier configurations.

Performance of dielectric barrier discharge ionization mass spectrometry for pesticide testing: a comparison with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and electrospray ionization.

Rationale: The present study reports on the evaluation of dielectric barrier discharge microplasma ionization (DBDI) for liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (LC/HRMS) analyses of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables. Ionization, fragmentation, analytical performance and matrix effects displayed by LC/DBDI-MS were critically evaluated and compared with both atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray (ESI), using a set of over 40 representative multiclass pesticides.

Methods: Sample preparation was accomplished using standard QuEChERS procedure and the identification and quantitation of the pesticides tested accomplished by means of LC/MS with a hybrid linear quadrupole ion trap (LIT)-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer operated in full-scan positive ion mode using DBDI, APCI and ESI sources.

Simultaneous testing of multiclass organic contaminants in food and environment by liquid chromatography/dielectric barrier discharge ionization-mass spectrometry.

A Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionization (DBDI) LC/MS interface is based on the use of a low-temperature helium plasma, which features the possibility of simultaneous ionization of species with a wide variety of physicochemical properties. In this work, the performance of LC/DBDI-MS for trace analysis of highly relevant species in food and environment has been examined. Over 75 relevant species including multiclass priority organic contaminants and residues such as pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine species, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and drugs of abuse were tested.