Characterizing and identifying complex matrices, particularly those present in nature, such as animal-derived products and plant components, remain major issues in analytical chemistry.
Attempts to define complex matrices rely on detecting unique diagnostic components, such as biomarkers, which necessitates extensive sample preparation.
The steps involved, such as solvent selection, extraction techniques, and method tuning, create bottlenecks in composite material analysis.
Popular mainstream techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are not always well suited for detecting and identifying some classes of molecules, for example, organosulfur compounds that produce artifacts when analyzed by this approach.
Compounds that fragment so extensively by electron ionization (EI)-MS that the observed fragmentation patterns are of little use in identifying the compound and molecules that are not readily volatilized and not amenable to GC analysis.
This harms the development of chemical analysis methods in various industries, including forensics, agriculture, and the food business.
In this regard, high-resolution direct analysis in real-time (DART)-MS provides novel ways to overcome some of these problems, particularly for complex matrices.
Using chemometric processing tools to mass spectral data allows for identifying a wide range of compounds.
This webinar will show several examples of how this approach can supplement information provided by more traditional techniques while pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery in fields such as forensic science, chemical ecology, and imaging mass spectrometry.
Key Learning Objectives
- Discover DART-MS applications in chemical ecology, forensics chemistry, and imaging mass spectrometry.
- Discover effective ways for detecting and identifying readily fragmented compounds.
- Explore DART-MS applications for chemical ecology, forensics, and imaging mass spectrometry.
Image Credit: JEOL USA, Inc.
About the Presenter
Rabi Ann Musah is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the State University of New York, Albany. Her research extensively utilizes the unique capabilities of DART-MS to analyze complex matrices, addressing questions such as how plants (1) defend themselves, (2) influence animal behavior, and (3) communicate.
Additionally, her work explores how these insights can be applied to socio-legal issues, including identifying plant-derived psychoactive substances in forensic science, developing methods to curb the trade of endangered species, and studying chemical communication between carrion insects and decomposing remains.