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

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 H3PO4. 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 −H2O −H]−) in mono, di and triphosphate groups and by loss of two water molecules ([M −2H2O −H]−) in tetraphosphate group.