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 language | American English |
---|---|
Article number | 033104 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Review of Scientific Instruments |
Volume | 82 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2011 |
NREL Publication Number
- NREL/JA-5100-49683
Keywords
- analytical technique
- biomass
- pyrolysis