Self-assembled matrix fabricated by Fe-metal organic frameworks and carboxymethyl cellulose for the determination of small molecules by MALDI-TOF MS.

A nanoprobe of laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOF MS) for the determination of small molecules was developed that is based on the composition of Fe-metal organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) and carboxymethyl cellulose-Na (CMC-Na). This material is a good adsorbent for small molecules via hydrogen bonding and π-interactions; we detected three molecules, dopamine, glyphosate, and pyrene. The detection limits for these compounds are 0.01 mg L-1, 1.50 μg L-1, and 0.01 μg L-1, respectively; the recoveries are 85-117%, 81-127%, and 89-115%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (~ 15%) and coefficients of determination of the calibration plot (~ 0.97) are satisfactory. The applicability of the chip for practical samples is demonstrated by quantifying pyrene in domestic water and polluted lake water; the recoveries are about 90~117% and 85~125% (n = 5), respectively; the RSDs are 9.4% and 13.5%, respectively. Graphical abstract.