Introduction
Mass spectrometry is a type of analytical technique that is used to ionize chemical compounds into charged molecules and they are separated based on the mass-to-charge ratios and their kinetic energy. It is thus can be used to identify the presence of the compound, their masses as well as their quantities.
During the ionisation process, sample molecules are bombarded with a beam of electrons, electrons may be captured by the molecules to produce radical anion or it may lead to displacement of the electron(s) located at the outer shell of the molecules to give a radical cation. The probability of getting radical cation is one hundred times higher than radical anion. Sample molecules are converted into ions when the ionisation potential …show more content…
Neutral Desorption-Extractive Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (ND-EESI-MS) for Detecting Insecticides in Honey
It is an analytical technique developed to detect the presence of antibiotics and insecticides in the honey. The presence of those agents in honey may be due to environmental pollution or contamination by honeybees which were exposed to the toxic insecticides which lead to consumer’s health problems.
The use of extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (EESI–MS) allows direct ionisation and quick process of mass spectrometry without requiring sample pre-treatment such as sample extraction and isolation of target compounds. Some positive results has been shown by this method in previous studies such as the honey in diluted or undiluted form was detected for presence of chloramphenicol. This provides the basis for detection of multiple contaminants in honey.
Later, neutral desorption equipment was combined with the EESI-MS to increase the efficiency as well as speed of the detection process. The combination skip the pre-treatment step and provide multiple contaminants detection in honey in short period of time. The application is well accepted as a sensitive, rapid and high outcomes equipment for analysis of commercial