Investigation of carbon graphite-like structures by laser mass spectrometry

Sorbents prepared from industrial waste and some carbon graphite-like materials are studied by laser ablation and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The mass spectra of all materials show a peak at a mass of 465 u. This peak is found to correspond to a molecule of mass 426 u to which a K$^+$ ion is attached. An exponential dependence of the M = 465 u peak intensity on the sorbent specific surface area in the range from 20 to 1200 m$^2$/g is obtained.