Application of mass spectrometry to the analysis of mixtures

Abstract

The work presented in this thesis involves the application of mass spectrometry to the analysis of a number of both commercial products and model organic compounds. Use of soft ionisation techniques for thermally labile and ionic compounds (mainly fast atom bombardment, field desorption and thermospray) has been extensively explored for the provision of both qualitative and quantitative information. More established ionisation techniques (electron impact and chemical ionisation) have also been utilized in order to obtain qualitative data. In many cases comparisons have been made between different ionisation modes, and some discussion of the processes occuring is given. Ion structures and decomposition pathways have been elucidated by both tandem mass spectrometry and high mass resolution measurements. Analysis of both complex mixtures and pure compounds has been performed. The systems studied were: surfactants (anionic - sodium alcohol ether sulphates, nonionic - alcohol ethoxylates, cationics - mainly quaternary ammonium salts), organotin PVC heat stabilisers and organic heterocyclic compounds (some chromans, chromenes and corresponding oximes)