Laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry of phosphorus-containing carbons

Abstract Laser desorption/ionization method and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOF) was used to reveal polyphosphates in phosphorus-containing carbons. Phosphorus-containing carbons were obtained by phosphoric acid activation of polymer and lignocellulosic precursor as well as by modification of activated carbon with H 3 PO 4 . LDI-TOF mass spectrometry revealed polyphosphates with degree of polymerization up to four. The most intensive peaks in LDI-TOF mass spectra correspond to fragments generated by loss of one water molecule from corresponding phosphoric acid ([M −H 2 O −H] − ) in mono, di and triphosphate groups and by loss of two water molecules ([M −2H 2 O −H] − ) in tetraphosphate group.