QUANTITATIVE APPLICATIONS OF MATRIX-ASSISTED LASER-DESORPTION IONIZATION WITH TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS-SPECTROMETRY - DETERMINATION OF COPOLYMER COMPOSITION IN BACTERIAL COPOLYESTERS

Poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate-co-beta-hydroxyvalerate) of microbial origin has been analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, after partial methanolysis, using two different instruments. Our results show that the mass spectral intensities recorded in the MALDI mode correlate with previously reported fast-atom bombardment and direct chemical ionization data. MALDI compares favourably with these other two techniques in that it is more suitable to the analysis of complex mixtures and of higher molecular masses.