New approaches to laser desorption/ionization of chemical compounds for geochemical studies

Abstract

Two new versions of surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization method are considered. One version is based on a combination of this method with thermal desorption sample injection and may be applied for determination of chemical compounds that are transformed into a gas phase without decomposition by heating. Another version is based on laser-induced electron-transfer desorption/ionization and could be used for determination of compounds with low proton affinity. The possibilities of the new approaches are illustrated by the example of determination of aminoacids, medical compounds, chlorophyll, as well as gold in sulfide ores.