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Sample preparation effects in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry of partially depolymerised methyl cellulose

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Author

Summary, in English

Methyl cellulose (MC) was partially depolymerised and the oligomers thus obtained were studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). The depolymerisation was either enzymatic or acidic. Fractions of enzymatically depolymerised MC were collected from size-exclusion chromatography and subjected to a sample preparation investigation. Several MALDI matrices and solvents were evaluated. The results showed that the solvent choice had a significant effect on the measured degree of substitution (DS). Aprotic solvents produced higher DS values, which was most likely due to poor solubility of species with low DS. The obtained signal intensity, however, did not correlate with the solubility but seemed to be more dependent on certain matrix/solvent combinations. All the matrices attempted produced mass spectra with sufficient signal intensity for accurate peak area calculation. The choice of matrix did not have any significant effect on the measured DS. Sample spots obtained from organic solvents had a more homogeneous distribution of the analyte and smaller crystals than those obtained from water. This increased both the reproducibility and peak resolution and in addition the analysis time was shorter. DS measurements were performed on two acidically depolymerised MCs with different nominal DS values. It was easy to distinguish between the two MCs, and the measured DS values agreed well with the values supplied by the manufacturers. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Publishing year

2003

Language

English

Pages

1116-1124

Publication/Series

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry

Volume

17

Issue

11

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Topic

  • Biological Sciences
  • Analytical Chemistry

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1097-0231