Laser Ablation with Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for Determining Aromatic Lignin Volatilization Products from Biomass

Calvin Mukarakate, Adam M. Scheer, David J. Robichaud, Mark W. Jarvis, Donald E. David, G. Barney Ellison, Mark R. Nimlos, Mark F. Davis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus Citations

Abstract

We have designed and developed a laser ablationpulsed sample introductionmass spectrometry platform that integrates pyrolysis (py) andor laser ablation (LA) with resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). Using this apparatus, we measured lignin volatilization products of untreated biomass materials. Biomass vapors are produced by either a custom-built hot stage pyrolysis reactor or laser ablation using the third harmonic of an Nd:YAG laser (355 nm). The resulting vapors are entrained in a free jet expansion of He, then skimmed and introduced into an ionization region. One color resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (11 REMPI) is used, resulting in highly selective detection of lignin subunits from complex vapors of biomass materials. The spectra obtained by py-REMPI-TOFMS and LA-REMPI-TOFMS display high selectivity and decreased fragmentation compared to spectra recorded by an electron impact ionization molecular beam mass spectrometer (EI-MBMS). The laser ablation method demonstrates the ability to selectively isolate and volatilize specific tissues within the same plant material and then detect lignin-based products from the vapors with enhanced sensitivity. The identification of select products observed in the LA-REMPI-TOFMS experiment is confirmed by comparing their REMPI wavelength scans with that of known standards.

Original languageAmerican English
Article number033104
Number of pages10
JournalReview of Scientific Instruments
Volume82
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-5100-49683

Keywords

  • analytical technique
  • biomass
  • pyrolysis

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