3P-31 PDF
Discovery of multiple sites of intra-molecular protonation and different fragmentation patterns within the fluoroquinolones using ion mobility mass spectrometry
Ion mobility differentiated molecules as they tumble through a buffer gas and their progress is related to the average rotational collision cross section (CCS). Ion mobility drift time can be used to determine the CCS of a molecule and compounds can be differentiated based on protonation site, size, shape and charge. There are multiple potential protonation sites for some compounds and this result in occurrence multiple protomers. The relative ratio and formation of protomers is seen to vary with flow rate, capillary voltage, cone voltage and matrix composition. The fragmentation patterns could be different from each protomers. In this study, High Definition Mass Spectrometry (HDMS) is explored as a tool for method development to support the unequivocal identification of fluoroquinolone (FQ) residues in complex matrices.