Detection mass bias in atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry.

A previously uncharacterized source of detection mass bias is shown to be associated with atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (APIMS), and is attributed to a mass dependence in the sampling of ions from the supersonic free jet expansion of gas emerging from the ion source. The halide ions Cl (-), Br(-), and I(-) are shown to be transported from the ion source aperture to a quadrupole mass filter with efficiencies that increase linearly with increasing mass of the ion. While the polyatomic anions SF 6 (-) and C7F 14 (-) are detected with even greater efficiencies than would be expected for monatomic anions of the same mass, this additional sensitivity to the polyatomic anions is thought to be related to ion loss processes occurring within the ion source. The experimental conditions under which these mass bias effects can be minimized or enhanced in APIMS are described.