Laser Microprobe Organic Microanalysis Feasibility Study

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This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of mass spectrometry. The goal of this research activity is to evaluate the organic microanalysis capability of laser ionization mass spectrometry (LIMS). This technique, which is also referred to as laser microprobe mass spectrometry, has been shown to provide useful organic microanalytical data for selected organic solids. However, a systematic evaluation of this potentially unique chemical analysis capability has not been performed. This Phase I research will determine the overall utility of the LIMS technique in organic solids analysis and could lead to the development of new LIMS protocols and instruments for this important type of analytical problem. This Phase I project consists of four research tasks: (1) Acquiring a LIMS data base of representative organic solids at several analysis conditions; (2) Analyzing these mass spectra for structurally significant ion peaks; (3) Comparing, where possible, these LIMS data with those produced by more conventional mass spectrometric techniques; and (4) Applying, where appropriate, factor analysis techniques to identify or distinguish the mass spectra produced from different solid analytes. This experimental strategy should provide the necessary information from which the general utility of LIMS organic microanalysis can be assessed.