Name: visualization of ambient mass spectrometry with the use of schlieren photography
Uploaded: 2016-06-20T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Visualization of Ambient Mass Spectrometry with the Use of Schlieren Photography at JoVE.com

The authors would like to acknowledge Caitlin Kowalewski for aiding in the editing and formatting of this publication.

1. Schlieren Photography
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	<li>Establishment of the Test Region 
	Note: The test region exists directly in front of the mirror.
	<ol>
		<li>Clamp a spherical concave mirror (150 mm diameter, focal length 1,500 mm) in a ring stand clamp large enough to support the mirror. Attach the ring stand clamp with the mirror to a ring stand perpendicular to the floor. The current study used a 3 foot ring stand, but any height can be used as long as it is tall enough to be able to center ...

<ol>
	<li>Settles, G. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Schlieren and Shadowgraph Techniques: Visualization Phenomena in Transparent Media. , (2001).</li><li>Strawa, A. W., Chapman, G. T., Arnold, J. O., Canning, T. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ballistic+range+and+aerothermodynamic+testing.">Ballistic range and aerothermodynamic testing.</a> J. Aircraft. 28 (7), 443-449 (1991).</li><li>Settles, G. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+gas+leaks+by+using+schlieren+optics.">Imaging gas leaks by using schlieren optics.</a> Pipeline &amp; Gas Journal. 226 (9), 28-30 (1999).</li><li>Takagi, T., Kubota, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+application+of+schlieren+optics+for+detection+of+protein+bands+and+other+phenomena+in+polyacrylamide+gel+electrophoresis.">The application of schlieren optics for detection of protein bands and other phenomena in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.</a> Electrophoresis. 11 (5), 361-366 (1990).</li><li>Clark, I. G., Cruz, J. R., Huges, M. F., Ware, J. S., Madlangbayan, A., Braun, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Aerodynamic+and+Aeroelastic+Characteristics+of+a+Tension+Cone+Inflatable+Aerodynamic+Decelerator.">Aerodynamic and Aeroelastic Characteristics of a Tension Cone Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator.</a> , (2009).</li><li>Froome, K. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Refractive+Indices+of+Water+Vapour,+Air,+Oxygen,+Nitrogen+and+Argon+at+72+kMc/s.">The Refractive Indices of Water Vapour, Air, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Argon at 72 kMc/s.</a> Proc. Phys. Soc. B. 68, 833-835 (1955).</li><li>Winter, G. T., Wilhide, J. A., LaCourse, W. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+a+Direct+Sample+Analysis+(DSA)+Ambient+Ionization.">Characterization of a Direct Sample Analysis (DSA) Ambient Ionization.</a> J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 26 (9), 1502-1507 (2015).</li><li>Pfeuffer, K. P., Schaper, J. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Halo-Shaped+Flowing+Atmospheric+Pressure+Afterglow:+A+Heavenly+Design+for+Simplified+Sample+Introduction+and+Improved+Ionization+in+Ambient+Mass+Spectrometry.">Halo-Shaped Flowing Atmospheric Pressure Afterglow: A Heavenly Design for Simplified Sample Introduction and Improved Ionization in Ambient Mass Spectrometry.</a> Anal. Chem. , 7512-7518 (2013).</li><li>Pfeuffer, K. P., Shelley, J. T., Ray, S. J., Hieftje, G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visualization+of+Mass+Transport+and+Heat+Transfer+in+the+FAPA+Ambient+Ionization+Source.">Visualization of Mass Transport and Heat Transfer in the FAPA Ambient Ionization Source.</a> J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 28 (379-387), 379-387 (2013).</li><li>Pfeuffer, K. P., Ray, S. J., Hieftje, G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measurement+and+Visualization+of+Mass+Transport+for+the+Flowing+Atmospheric+Pressure+Afterglow+(FAPA)+Ambient+Mass-Spectrometry+Source.">Measurement and Visualization of Mass Transport for the Flowing Atmospheric Pressure Afterglow (FAPA) Ambient Mass-Spectrometry Source.</a> J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 25 (5), 800-808 (2014).</li><li>Keelor, J. D., Dwivedi, P., Fern&#225;ndez, F. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+Effective+Approach+for+Coupling+Direct+Analysis+in+Real+Time+with+Atmospheric+Pressure+Drift+Tube+Ion+Mobility+Spectrometry.">An Effective Approach for Coupling Direct Analysis in Real Time with Atmospheric Pressure Drift Tube Ion Mobility Spectrometry.</a> J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 25 (9), 1538-1548 (2014).</li></ol>

There are several considerations which must be addressed prior to attempting this protocol. In addition to the space around the mass spectrometer for the source and mirror, enough open space must be available to accommodate the distance of twice the focal point of the mirror. Furthermore, the size of the mirror is ultimately decided by the size of the source that is under study. If the mirror is too small, the source will not be fully visualized. It is important to note that some, if not all, of the source covers must be...

Mass Spectrometry, an analytical tool available for molecular mass identification, has become one of the most powerful analytical techniques to date. Over the last decade a whole host of new ambient ionization sources have become available for mass spectrometry detection. For the data collected in this manuscript, the Direct Sample Analysis (DSA) source was utilized. Although these sources are extremely versatile, a more detailed knowledge of the physical ionization process is needed for its optimization and extension of purpose. The aim of this experiment is to gain a better understanding of the ionization process within the ambient sources through visualization of the nitrogen stream on the device using a technique called schlieren photography.
Scientific study often initiates through observation, which is difficult if the object of study is transparent to the naked eye. Schlieren photography is a technique that allows the invisible to become visible through relying on changes in the refractive index within transparent media1. The inhomogeneity of the refractive indices causes a distortion of the light allowing for visualization. The schlieren technique has been routinely used in a variety of specialty fields including ballistics modeling, aerospace engineering, general gas detection and flow monitoring, and at times to visualize protein bands in gel electrophoresis2-5.
Most ambient ionization sources use a stream of gas in order to facilitate the ionization. A wide range of conditions can exist for source options, however the parameters of this experiment must involve the utilization of a gas with a refractive index that differs from the surrounding lab air. This specific study utilizes hot nitrogen. It should be noted that only a small difference in refractive index is observed between pure nitrogen from the gas stream and air at RT6, mainly because air is composed mostly of nitrogen. This issue is overcome in this instance due to the high temperatures of the pure nitrogen in the gas stream which produces a significant enough change in refractive index for the gas to be observed.
Other mass spectrometry sources such as a Desorption Atmospheric Chemical Ionization (DAPCI)7, Flowing Atmospheric Pressure Afterglow (FAPA)8-10, and Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART)11 ionization sources have used schlieren photography. The intention of this protocol is to discuss how to study ambient ionization using a basic schlieren photography configuration. This technique, however, is applicable to any number of different analytical techniques that involve gaseous streams.

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	<tbody>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:303px;">Flashlight</td>
			<td style="width:109px;">EAGTAC</td>
			<td style="width:108px;">D25A Ti</td>
			<td style="width:87px;">or equvilent&#160;</td>
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			<td>Anchor Optics</td>
			<td>27633</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Rebel EOS T2i</td>
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visualization of ambient mass spectrometry with the use of schlieren photography

This manuscript outlines how to visualize mass spectrometry ambient ionization sources using schlieren photography. In order to properly optimize the mass spectrometer, it is necessary to characterize and understand the physical principles of the source. Most commercial ambient ionization sources utilize jets of nitrogen, helium, or atmospheric air to facilitate the ionization of the analyte. As a consequence, schlieren photography can be used to visualize the gas streams by exploiting the differences in refractive index between the streams and ambient air for visualization in real time. The basic setup requires a camera, mirror, flashlight, and razor blade. When properly configured, a real time image of the source is observed by watching its reflection. This allows for insight into the mechanism of action in the source, and pathways to its optimization can be elucidated. Light is shed on an otherwise invisible situation.

A schematic of the schlieren setup including the mass spectrometry ionization source can be found in Figure 1. When all schlieren components are properly aligned, gases within the test region can be seen as contrasting dark and light regions. Figure 2 illustrates how this contrast can be used to observe how the shape of the nitrogen jet flow from the mass spectrometry source changes as nozzle size decreases.
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Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Visualization of Ambient Mass Spectrometry with the Use of Schlieren Photography at JoVE.com

Visualization of Ambient Mass Spectrometry with the Use of Schlieren Photography

This paper presents a protocol for the visualization of gaseous streams of an ambient ionization source using schlieren photography and mass spectrometry.

This manuscript outlines how to visualize mass spectrometry ambient ionization sources using schlieren photography. In order to properly optimize the mass ...

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