Journal of Chromatography & Separation Techniques
Open Access
ISSN: 2157-7064
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2157-7064
+44 1300 500008
Giovanni Meloni
University of San Francisco, USA
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Chromatogr Sep Tech
Synchrotron multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometry has proven to be a powerful and reliable experimental technique to probe precise reactions relevant to both combustion and atmospheric chemistry by characterizing products and intermediates, energetically via photoionization spectra and kinetically via time traces. The versatility of a side-sample flow tube reactor employing flash photolysis initiation of the reactions has been satisfactorily proven in recent years. The continuously tunable synchrotron radiation is employed as the photoionization source. The synchrotron multiplexed photoionization mass spectrometer at the advanced light source (ALS) of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will be described and specific examples will be presented. As a result of the multiplexing capabilities of this apparatus, each set of data comprises a threedimensional data block of time, mass-to-charge ratio, and photon energy as function of ion intensity. The reaction is initiated when the photolysis laser is fired, i.e., this corresponds to the reaction starting time t0. The species generated in the reactions can be followed in time and energy to provide kinetic traces and photoionization (PI) spectra, which is a plot of the ion signal of a chosen mass-to-charge ratio versus the photon energy. The PI plots are of great importance in product identification because each species has specific Franck-Condon factors that translate into different shapes of the photoionization spectra. In addition, photoionization spectra not only assist in product identification, but also provide information relating to the relative concentrations of products of interest through the measurement of their photoionization cross-sections.
Giovanni Meloni is a Professor, Chemistry Department Chair and a Physical Chemist. Prior to joining the University of San Francisco, he carried out Post-doctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley and at Sandia National Laboratories. In this research, he used state-of-the-art techniques, both experimental and computational, to study transition states, semiconductor clusters, and van der Waals species employing anion photoelectron spectroscopy, and hydrocarbon radicals using pulsedlaser photolytic initiation and continuous-laser absorption detection. His current research interests range from high-temperature physical chemistry to spectroscopic characterization of reaction intermediates important to atmospheric and combustion chemistry, especially focusing on biofuel molecules.
E-mail: gmeloni@usfca.edu