Photochemical degradation of antibiotics: real-time investigation by aerodynamic thermal breakup droplet ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

A method is proposed for studying photochemical reactions in solution in real time using aerodynamic/thermal breakup droplet ionization mass spectrometry. Capabilities of the method were demonstrated by analyses of photodegradation processes of three antibiotics (thiamphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin) by means of aqueous solutions. The method rapidly provided information about photochemical changes for understanding the photochemical processes.