Separation of isomeric carotenoids using ion mobility spectrometry-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

摘要

Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments that function as provitamin A compounds and antioxidants. Biosynthesized in plants as the all-trans isomers, carotenoids undergo isomerization to form multiple cis isomers which have been reported to have different bioavailabilities [1]. Although C_(30) stationary phases are available to facilitate the chromatographic separation of carotenoid geometrical isomers, these separations require up to 90 min per analysis. Since faster methods are needed to separate carotenoid isomers, ion mobility mass spectrometry was evaluated to address this important application. IMS is the gas-phase separation of ions on the basis of size and shape in an electric field. When coupled with mass spectrometry, a new dimension of high speed separation is added to mass spectrometric analysis [2].