P. M-L Sinues, M. Kohler and R. Zenobi

The development of noninvasive analytical techniques is of interest to the field of chronobiology, in order to reveal the human metabolome that seems to show temporal patterns and to predict internal body time. We report on the real-time mass spectrometric analysis of human breath as a potential method to be used in this field.

L. Meier, C. Berchtold, S. Schmid and R. Zenobi

In this study, we used secondary electrospray ionization mass spectrometry assisted by an ion funnel (IF) operating at ambient pressure to find compounds in the mass range of 100–500 m/z in online breath fingerprinting experiments. In low-resolution experiments conducted on an ion trap instrument, we found that pyridin is present in breath of individuals long after drinking coffee …

G. Vidal-de-Miguel, M. Macía, P. Pinacho, and J. Blanco

In secondary electrospray ionization (SESI) systems, gaseous analytes exposed to an elecrospray plume become ionized after charge is transferred from the charging electrosprayed particles to the sample species. Current SESI systems have shown a certain potential. However, their ionization efficiency is limited by …

Lukas Christian Meier

It has been known for years that breath analysis has the potential of becoming a powerful tool to acquire information on the health status of individuals. Using mass spectrometry (MS) for breath analysis would allow for the detection of hundreds of compounds simultaneously and even render real time (online) monitoring of the individual’s health status possible. Unfortunately, the efficient transfer of breath into mass spectrometers is difficult to achieve. Therefore, only very volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being present in breath at high concentrations have been measured so far. The work presented in this thesis intends to extend the range of compounds being detected in breath towards higher masses, less volatile and less concentrated compounds…

G. Vidal-de-Miguel, A. Herrero

In secondary electrospray ionization (SESI) systems, gaseous analytes exposed to an electrospray plume become ionized after charge is transferred from the charging electrosprayed particles (the charging agent) to the vapor species. Currently available SESI models are valid for simplified systems having only one type of electrosprayed species …

L. Meier, C. Berchtold, S. Schmid and R. Zenobi

In this study, we use an ion funnel (IF) at ambient pressure to enhance the sensitivity of secondary electrospray ionization (SESI). Atenolol, salbutamol and cocaine as test compounds are delivered to the SESI interface in the gas phase and are charged with three nano electrosprays …