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Rotating ball inlet for continuous mass spectrometric monitoring of aqueous solutions
Author(s) -
Ørsnes Henrik,
Graf Thomas,
Bohatka Sandor,
Degn Hans
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0231(19980115)12:1<11::aid-rcm110>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - chemistry , spectrometer , mass spectrometry , analytical chemistry (journal) , ball (mathematics) , ionization , electron ionization , aqueous solution , gasket , hybrid mass spectrometer , quadrupole mass analyzer , chromatography , composite material , selected reaction monitoring , optics , tandem mass spectrometry , organic chemistry , materials science , physics , ion , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Abstract A new device for continuous mechanical introduction of liquid samples into a mass spectrometer is described. A ball mounted on a shaft is supported by a polymer gasket at the circumference of a hole leading into the mass spectrometer. The surface of the ball on the outside is in contact with the liquid sample. Sample sticking to the surface of the ball is dragged past the gasket into the mass spectrometer where it evaporates and is ionized by electron impact. The rotating ball inlet overcomes some of the problems associated with previously known methods for continuous sample introduction into a mass spectrometer. A wide variety of compounds can be measured continuously in aqueous solution with a response time in the order of seconds. The fragmentation of molecules caused by electron impact ionization facilitates identification of analytes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.