ORIGINS AND STRUCTURES OF BACKGROUND IONS PRODUCED BY FAST-ATOM-BOMBARDMENT OF GLYCEROL

Accurate mass measurements were used to assign elemental compositions and tandem mass spectrometry was used to characterize the peak-at-ever y-mass background ions produced by kiloelectron-volt-particle bombardm ent of neat fast-atom bombardment matrices. The majority of the backgr ound ions observed in the mass spectrum of neat glycerol was identifie d. On the basis of the experiments with glycerol, a theory for the for mation of background ions is presented. Results are discussed accordin g to the chemical and physical changes that kiloelectron-volt-particle bombardment produces in the matrix.