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NAL Agricultural Thesaurus
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Concept Breadcrumbs

Research, Technology, Methods > methodology > analytical methods > spectroscopy > mass spectrometry > electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Preferred Term:

electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Definition:
A mass spectrometry technique used for analysis of nonvolatile compounds such as proteins and macromolecules. The technique involves preparing electrically charged droplets from analyte molecules dissolved in solvent. The electrically charged droplets enter a vacuum chamber where the solvent is evaporated. Evaporation of solvent reduces the droplet size, thereby increasing the coulombic repulsion within the droplet. As the charged droplets get smaller, the excess charge within them causes them to disintegrate and release analyte molecules. The volatilized analyte molecules are then analyzed by mass spectrometry.
Concept Schemes:
NALT Full
Broader Concept:
mass spectrometry
Entry Terms:
  • ESI-MS (electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry)
  • electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry
  • electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry
URI:
https://lod.nal.usda.gov/nalt/228770
Download this Concept:
RDF/XMLCreated 2014-09-16, last modified 2019-09-13