Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Methodology

The present invention discloses a method of enhanced speciation of both positive and negatives species in an analyte. Briefly, the technology is a method to produce efficient gas phase ions of both polar and nonpolar species through deprotonation with the Tetramethylammonium hydroxide and through silver cationization with the reagent silver triflate. The method can include producing a first analyte solution comprising an analyte composition and an effective amount of silver triflate, and analyzing the first analyte solution with an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. The method can also include producing a second analyte solution comprising a portion of the analyte composition and an effective amount of a compound of formula I, and analyzing the second analyte solution with an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. The compound of formula I is [NX+][OH−], where X is a linear, branched, or cyclic C1-C10 alkane; an aryl; a heterocyclic aromatic; or a heterocyclic moiety.

Advantages:

• Easy to implement
• The reagent allows for more uniform deprotonation of acidic moieties
•  Enables the detailed characterization of nonpolar species that are not efficiently ionized in the conventional electrospray ionization process 

Applications:

• Detailed speciation of acidic species in petroleum and quantitation of those species identified