| Field flow fractionation (FFF) is capable of separating particles in the 0.1 to 5 um diameter range, but most FFF instruments rely on light scattering for detection. Here we report for the first time the use of a thermal ionization mass spectrometry (MS) to detect particles from whole cell lysates in real time from an FFF. Particulates were dried and entrained into an aerosol beam, then focused on a heated Re filament. Ions evaporated from the particles were analyzed with an ion trap MS. Methods for sample preparation, solvent composition, and MS operating parameters will be discussed. |
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