Performance Comparison of Ambient Ionization Techniques Using a Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer for the Analysis of Amino Acids, Drugs, and Explosives.

The utilization of ambient ionization (AI) techniques for mass spectrometry (MS) has significantly grown due to their ability to facilitate rapid and direct sample analysis with minimal sample preparation. This study investigates the performance of various AI techniques, including atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP), thermal desorption corona discharge (TDCD), direct analysis in real time (DART), and paper spray coupled to a Waters QDa mass spectrometer. The focus is on evaluating the linearity, repeatability, and limit of detection (LOD) of these techniques across a range of analytes, including amino acids, drugs, and explosives.

Assessment of a Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer Combined with an Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe for the On-Site Identification of Amnesty Bin Drugs.

The surging number of people who abuse drugs has a great impact on healthcare and law enforcement systems. Amnesty bin drug analysis helps monitor the "street drug market" and tailor the harm reduction advice. Therefore, rapid and accurate drug analysis methods are crucial for on-site work.

Atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry: An easy bolt-on for the synthetic undergraduate teaching laboratory.

Rationale: High costs and student numbers can often hinder implementation of mass spectrometry (MS) in the undergraduate teaching laboratory, often with technicians running samples on students' behalf, and the implementation of MS only in discrete or isolated experiments. This study explores the use of atmospheric solids analysis probe MS (ASAP-MS) as a relatively low-cost, benchtop instrument, and its potential for application as a 'bolt-on' to existing undergraduate organic chemistry experiments.

Methods: Thirteen products synthesised in undergraduate laboratory experiments were analysed by ASAP-MS, along with their starting materials.

Selectivity of Explosives Analysis with Ambient Ionization Single Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry: Implications for Trace Detection.

Ambient ionization (AI) is a rapidly growing field in mass spectrometry (MS). It allows for the direct analysis of samples without any sample preparation, making it a promising technique for the detection of explosives. Previous studies have shown that AI can be used to detect a variety of explosives, but the exact gas-phase reactions that occur during ionization are not fully understood.

Assessment of atmospheric solids analysis probe as a tool for the rapid determination of drug purity.

The ability to determine the purity (% controlled compound) of drug-of-abuse samples is necessary for public health and law enforcement. Here, we describe the assessment of atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) for the rapid determination of drug purity for a set of formulated pharmaceuticals, chosen due to their availability, uncontrolled status and consistency. Paracetamol and loratadine were used as models of high and low purity compounds being ~90% and ~10% active ingredient, respectively.