30 Years of research on ESI/MS response: Trends, contradictions and applications

Piia Liigand; Jaanus Liigand; Karl Kaupmees; Anneli Kruve

doi:10.1016/j.aca.2020.11.049

30 Years of research on ESI/MS response: Trends, contradictions and applications

Anal Chim Acta. 2021 Apr 1:1152:238117. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.11.049. Epub 2020 Dec 1.

Authors

Piia Liigand¹, Jaanus Liigand², Karl Kaupmees¹, Anneli Kruve³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.
² Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada.
³ Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius Väg 16, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: anneli.kruve@su.se.

PMID: 33648645
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.11.049

Abstract

The variation of ionization efficiency for different compounds has puzzled researchers since the invention of the electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI/MS). Ionization depends on the properties of the compound, eluent, matrix, and instrument. Despite significant research, some aspects have remained unclear. For example, research groups have reached contradicting conclusions regarding the ionization processes. One of the best-known is the significance of the logP value for predicting the ionization efficiency. In this tutorial review, we analyse the methodology used for ionization efficiency measurements as well as the most important trends observed in the data. Additionally, we give suggestions regarding the measurement methodology and modelling strategies to yield meaningful and consistent ionization efficiency data. Finally, we have collected a wide range of ionization efficiency values from the literature and evaluated the consistency of these data. We also make this collection available for everyone for downloading as well as for uploading additional and new ionization efficiency data. We hope this GitHub based ionization efficiency repository will allow a joined community effort to collect and unify the current knowledge about the ionization processes.

Publication types

Review