Surface assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) was evaluated as a rapid tool for analysis of polyester degradation products. A SALDI method was developed to enable screening of low molecular mass polyesters and their degradation products. Oligo(e-caprolactone) was used as a model compound for the SALDI-MS method development. The signal-to-noise values obtained by SALDI-MS were 20 and 100 times higher compared to traditional matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) of the same samples using 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and dithranol, respectively, as matrices. Halloysite nanoclay and magnesium oxide both showed excellent SALDI functionality. In addition, the SALDI-MS method provided a clean background in the low mass range and a higher mass resolution compared to MALDI-MS. The developed method for the analysis of polyester degradation products was also verified by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). An advantage over ESI-MS is the possibility to directly analyze degradation products in buffer solutions.

SALDI-MS for analysis of polyester degradation products

244th National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.