Simultaneous Detection of Polar and Nonpolar Molecules by Nano-ESI MS with Plasma Ignited by an Ozone Generator Power Supply

We present a simple and cost-effective method for generating a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma using a commercially available ozone generator power supply. By coupling the plasma source to the extended ion transfer tube of an ambient mass spectrometer, we achieved stable plasma discharge,...

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Main Authors: Yunshuo Tian, Yifan Meng, Richard N. Zare
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2546
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author Yunshuo Tian
Yifan Meng
Richard N. Zare
author_facet Yunshuo Tian
Yifan Meng
Richard N. Zare
author_sort Yunshuo Tian
collection DOAJ
description We present a simple and cost-effective method for generating a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma using a commercially available ozone generator power supply. By coupling the plasma source to the extended ion transfer tube of an ambient mass spectrometer, we achieved stable plasma discharge, enabling the post-ionization of nonpolar compounds during the electrospray ionization process. Using this approach, we successfully detected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), halogenated PAHs (HPAHs), and other nonpolar pollutants in liquid mixtures, with detection limits on the order of 10 ng/mL. In fish exposed to HPAHs, both polar metabolites and lipids, as well as the nonpolar pollutant 1-chloronaphthalene, were simultaneously detected. Notably, 1-chloronaphthalene accumulated at the highest concentration in gill tissue. This straightforward plasma-assisted technique offers a reliable strategy for expanding the detection capabilities of electrospray mass spectrometry to include nonpolar molecules.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-43416de4d662445fa190e4e5455af6042025-08-20T03:29:44ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-06-013012254610.3390/molecules30122546Simultaneous Detection of Polar and Nonpolar Molecules by Nano-ESI MS with Plasma Ignited by an Ozone Generator Power SupplyYunshuo Tian0Yifan Meng1Richard N. Zare2College of Letter and Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USADepartment of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USADepartment of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USAWe present a simple and cost-effective method for generating a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma using a commercially available ozone generator power supply. By coupling the plasma source to the extended ion transfer tube of an ambient mass spectrometer, we achieved stable plasma discharge, enabling the post-ionization of nonpolar compounds during the electrospray ionization process. Using this approach, we successfully detected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), halogenated PAHs (HPAHs), and other nonpolar pollutants in liquid mixtures, with detection limits on the order of 10 ng/mL. In fish exposed to HPAHs, both polar metabolites and lipids, as well as the nonpolar pollutant 1-chloronaphthalene, were simultaneously detected. Notably, 1-chloronaphthalene accumulated at the highest concentration in gill tissue. This straightforward plasma-assisted technique offers a reliable strategy for expanding the detection capabilities of electrospray mass spectrometry to include nonpolar molecules.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2546ozone generator power supplydielectric barrier discharge ionizationnonpolar moleculesmass spectrometry
spellingShingle Yunshuo Tian
Yifan Meng
Richard N. Zare
Simultaneous Detection of Polar and Nonpolar Molecules by Nano-ESI MS with Plasma Ignited by an Ozone Generator Power Supply
Molecules
ozone generator power supply
dielectric barrier discharge ionization
nonpolar molecules
mass spectrometry
title Simultaneous Detection of Polar and Nonpolar Molecules by Nano-ESI MS with Plasma Ignited by an Ozone Generator Power Supply
title_full Simultaneous Detection of Polar and Nonpolar Molecules by Nano-ESI MS with Plasma Ignited by an Ozone Generator Power Supply
title_fullStr Simultaneous Detection of Polar and Nonpolar Molecules by Nano-ESI MS with Plasma Ignited by an Ozone Generator Power Supply
title_full_unstemmed Simultaneous Detection of Polar and Nonpolar Molecules by Nano-ESI MS with Plasma Ignited by an Ozone Generator Power Supply
title_short Simultaneous Detection of Polar and Nonpolar Molecules by Nano-ESI MS with Plasma Ignited by an Ozone Generator Power Supply
title_sort simultaneous detection of polar and nonpolar molecules by nano esi ms with plasma ignited by an ozone generator power supply
topic ozone generator power supply
dielectric barrier discharge ionization
nonpolar molecules
mass spectrometry
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2546
work_keys_str_mv AT yunshuotian simultaneousdetectionofpolarandnonpolarmoleculesbynanoesimswithplasmaignitedbyanozonegeneratorpowersupply
AT yifanmeng simultaneousdetectionofpolarandnonpolarmoleculesbynanoesimswithplasmaignitedbyanozonegeneratorpowersupply
AT richardnzare simultaneousdetectionofpolarandnonpolarmoleculesbynanoesimswithplasmaignitedbyanozonegeneratorpowersupply