A novel, convenient ambient electric arc ionization (AEAI) device was developed as a mass spectrometry ion source for versatile sample analysis. AEAI could be considered as a soft ionization technique in which the protonated ion ([M + H]⁺) is the main ion species with little or no in-source fragmentation for most analytes. Coupled with a high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer, AEAI could be applied to the analysis of a variety of organic compounds having a wide range of polarities, ranging from non-polar species such as polybenzenoid aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to highly polar species such as amino acids. With its versatile capabilities in the mass spectrometric analysis of small molecules, AEAI has the potential to be an alternative to traditional ionization methods such as electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), and electron impact (EI) ionization. The limitations of AEAI are also discussed.

中文翻译：

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环境电弧电离用于使用质谱法进行多功能样品分析

一种新颖、方便的环境电弧电离 (AEAI) 设备被开发为用于多功能样品分析的质谱离子源。AEAI 可以被认为是一种软电离技术，其中质子化离子 ([M + H] ⁺) 是大多数分析物很少或没有源内碎裂的主要离子种类。与高分辨率 Orbitrap 质谱仪相结合，AEAI 可用于分析具有广泛极性的各种有机化合物，从非极性物质（如聚苯环芳烃 (PAH)）到高极性物质，如氨基酸。AEAI 凭借其在小分子质谱分析方面的多功能能力，有可能成为传统电离方法的替代品，例如电喷雾电离 (ESI)、大气压化学电离 (APCI) 和电子撞击 (EI) 电离。还讨论了 AEAI 的局限性。