An electrospray membrane probe for the analysis of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in water.

A new membrane probe incorporating electrospray ionization (ESI) was designed, built and coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer to detect low levels of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in water. Similar to other membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) systems, the probe contains a capillary polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane to allow for the preferential permeation of small molecules but, in contrast, the interface uses a liquid/membrane/liquid interface rather than liquid/membrane/gas. The ESI source allows the probe to be operated at atmospheric pressure in positive or negative ionization mode and the lack of fragmentation in ESI allows for the simultaneous screening of many analytes with high sensitivity. The interface allows for the addition of additives to both the external and the internal liquid mobile phases to selectively improve permeation and/or the ionization efficiency of various classes of compounds. Characterization of the probe with methanol as the internal mobile phase showed that the signal for aniline optimized at 60 degrees C and an internal flow rate between 2-5 microL/min. The transfer of analyte through the membrane from water to methanol ensures a strong signal and robust electrospray for both positive and negative ion mode which is not typical when spraying pure water. Detection limits for aniline, pyridine and pentachlorophenol, and for the herbicides alachlor, atrazine, butachlor, metolachlor and simazine, were in the ppb to pptr range.