19
lead to changes in the observed processes. In this way, the researcher can perform
multi-factor dependency analysis, as well as determine the degree of influence of
each individual factor.
1.3.3 Chemical Analysis
Environmental research, especially research on environmental degradation processes and their consequences, involves the chemical characterization of a huge
number of chemical components of an organic and inorganic nature. They can
include qualitative and quantitative determination. Nowadays, rapid technological
development has ensured the production of fast, modernized, and effective qualitative and quantitative automatic instruments, which enable rapid qualification and
quantification of the chemical composition of any environmental medium.
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a method used for qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. An important feature of mass spectrometry is its high sensitivity. The
mass spectrometer is an instrument in which the examined sample is ionized and the
generated ions are separated under the action of a magnetic field and are registered
according to the values of the masses (Brack et al. 2019). More precisely, the mass
spectrometer determines the ratio of mass and charge of the ion (m/e), but most ions
have only a single charge (e = 1), so the term “mass” is often used and essentially
means the ratio m/e. The first constructed instruments were called mass spectrographs because the registration of ions was done on a photographic plate. Later the
electrical ion detection system was perfected and the name was changed to a mass
spectrometer. There is a difference in registration between the two devices: in the
spectrograph all ions are registered at once, while in the spectrometer one-by-one
type of ions is achieved by continuous change of the magnetic field. In the first half
of the last century, mass spectrometry developed much more slowly, due to the
imperfection of the instrument as well as due to the high cost. Mass spectrometry
achieved a rapid rise in the period 1995–2005. A new ionization source under atmospheric pressure was developed, existing analyzers were suitable, so a hybrid instrument was developed with a combination of analyzers. The analyzer based on the
new concept was further used to develop new applications.
The first step in analyzing a sample by mass spectrometry is to create a gas phase
of ions from the sample for analysis, for example, by electronic ionization:
M e
M
e
+ →
+
−
⋅ +
−
2
This M
∙+
molecular ion is further subjected to additional fragmentation. Since it
is a radical cation with an odd number of electrons, it is possible to fragment it to
obtain a radical (R
∙
) and an ion with a positive number of electrons (EE
+
) or a molecule (N) and a new cation with an odd number of electrons (OE
∙+
):
1 General Aspects of Environmental Degradation vs. Technological Development…
lead to changes in the observed processes. In this way, the researcher can perform
multi-factor dependency analysis, as well as determine the degree of influence of
each individual factor.
1.3.3 Chemical Analysis
Environmental research, especially research on environmental degradation processes and their consequences, involves the chemical characterization of a huge
number of chemical components of an organic and inorganic nature. They can
include qualitative and quantitative determination. Nowadays, rapid technological
development has ensured the production of fast, modernized, and effective qualitative and quantitative automatic instruments, which enable rapid qualification and
quantification of the chemical composition of any environmental medium.
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a method used for qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. An important feature of mass spectrometry is its high sensitivity. The
mass spectrometer is an instrument in which the examined sample is ionized and the
generated ions are separated under the action of a magnetic field and are registered
according to the values of the masses (Brack et al. 2019). More precisely, the mass
spectrometer determines the ratio of mass and charge of the ion (m/e), but most ions
have only a single charge (e = 1), so the term “mass” is often used and essentially
means the ratio m/e. The first constructed instruments were called mass spectrographs because the registration of ions was done on a photographic plate. Later the
electrical ion detection system was perfected and the name was changed to a mass
spectrometer. There is a difference in registration between the two devices: in the
spectrograph all ions are registered at once, while in the spectrometer one-by-one
type of ions is achieved by continuous change of the magnetic field. In the first half
of the last century, mass spectrometry developed much more slowly, due to the
imperfection of the instrument as well as due to the high cost. Mass spectrometry
achieved a rapid rise in the period 1995–2005. A new ionization source under atmospheric pressure was developed, existing analyzers were suitable, so a hybrid instrument was developed with a combination of analyzers. The analyzer based on the
new concept was further used to develop new applications.
The first step in analyzing a sample by mass spectrometry is to create a gas phase
of ions from the sample for analysis, for example, by electronic ionization:
M e
M
e
+ →
+
−
⋅ +
−
2
This M
∙+
molecular ion is further subjected to additional fragmentation. Since it
is a radical cation with an odd number of electrons, it is possible to fragment it to
obtain a radical (R
∙
) and an ion with a positive number of electrons (EE
+
) or a molecule (N) and a new cation with an odd number of electrons (OE
∙+
):
1 General Aspects of Environmental Degradation vs. Technological Development…