A gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-division multiplexing interface device and detection method

Abstract

The present application relates to a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface device and detection method. The interface device is provided with a first four-way valve and a second four-way valve assembly, and the second four-way valve assembly includes one or more second four-way valves; the first interface of the first four-way valve is connected to the mass spectrometer, the third interface is connected to the gas chromatograph, and the second interface of the first four-way valve is connected to the first interface of the second four-way valve at the end of the second four-way valve assembly; in the second four-way valve assembly, the first interface and the second interface of the adjacent second four-way valve are connected respectively, so that the multiple second four-way valves are connected in sequence, and the third interface of the second four-way valve is connected to the gas chromatograph; and the second interface of the second four-way valve at the head end of the second four-way valve assembly is connected to the gas chromatograph. The present application can realize the time-sharing multiplexing of multiple gas chromatographs and a mass spectrometer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of detection equipment, and in particular to an interface device for connecting a gas chromatograph and a mass spectrometer, and a detection method using the interface device. Background Art

[0002] When gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is used together, the gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer are set up one-to-one. The gas chromatograph separates the samples, and the mass spectrometer analyzes the samples and collects signals. Usually, a chromatographic column can only be used for the analysis of one type of substance, and a gas chromatograph is only equipped with one chromatographic column. If you want to complete the analysis of multiple types of substances, you need to use multiple chromatographs to perform them separately, and accordingly you need to set up the same number of mass spectrometers. However, the price of a mass spectrometer is very expensive, much higher than the price of a gas chromatograph.

[0003] In the prior art, an intelligent automatic switching multi-channel gas chromatography column connection device is proposed, which includes a fixed base, multiple gas chromatography columns, a control panel with a display screen, and two multi-channel chromatography column connection devices with multiple fluid channels, which can switch the fluid channels by rotation so that the fluid flows through different gas chromatography columns. In this technical solution, when replacing the gas chromatography column, there is no need to manually disassemble and reinstall it, and the injection control in different chromatographic columns can be automatically switched by one button. However, this technical solution is used to realize the simultaneous connection of multiple chromatographic columns in a chromatograph, and only one of the selected chromatographic columns can work, and the two ends of the remaining chromatographic columns are sealed and are in a completely non-working state. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of the technical problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, the present application aims to provide a new type of gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface device, and a detection method using the interface device. The interface device proposed in the present application can connect multiple gas chromatographs and a mass spectrometer, and utilize different gas chromatographs to separate different types of substances at different times, so that multiple gas chromatographs can share a mass spectrometer in different time periods, thereby completing the detection of multiple types of substances and reducing the cost of the device.

[0005] The present application provides a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-division multiplexing interface device, wherein the interface device is provided with a first four-way valve and a second four-way valve assembly, wherein the second four-way valve assembly includes one or more second four-way valves;

[0006] Interface No. 1 of the first four-way valve is connected to a mass spectrometer, interface No. 3 is connected to a gas chromatograph, and interface No. 2 of the first four-way valve is connected to interface No. 1 of a second four-way valve at the end of the second four-way valve assembly;

[0007] In the second four-way valve assembly, the first interface and the second interface of adjacent second four-way valves are connected respectively, so that the plurality of second four-way valves are connected in sequence, and the third interfaces of the second four-way valves are all connected to the gas chromatograph;

[0008] Furthermore, the second interface of the second four-way valve at the head end of the second four-way valve assembly is connected to the gas chromatograph.

[0009] As an optional implementation of the present application, the fourth interface of the first four-way valve is used for draining.

[0010] As an optional implementation of the present application, the four interfaces of the second four-way valve are all used for draining.

[0011] As an optional implementation of the present application, both the first four-way valve and the second four-way valve are two-position four-way valves.

[0012] As an optional implementation of the present application, the inner diameters of interface No. 1, interface No. 2, and interface No. 3 of the first four-way valve are the same as or similar to the inner diameter of the chromatographic column in the connected gas chromatograph.

[0013] As an optional embodiment of the present application, in the second four-way valve assembly, the inner diameters of the No. 1 interface, the No. 2 interface, and the No. 3 interface of the plurality of the second four-way valves are the same as or similar to the inner diameter of the chromatographic column in the connected gas chromatograph.

[0014] The present application also proposes a method for detection using any of the above-mentioned gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface devices, by controlling the changes in the valve core positions of the first four-way valve and the second four-way valve, so that the mass spectrometer is connected to different gas chromatographs respectively, and the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph are separated and then enter the mass spectrometer for detection.

[0015] Furthermore, the detection method comprises the following steps:

[0016] Connecting the No. 2 port and the No. 1 port of the first four-way valve;

[0017] Connecting the second interface and the first interface of the adjacent second four-way valve;

[0018] Connecting the No. 2 interface of the first four-way valve to the No. 1 interface of the second four-way valve at the end of the second four-way valve assembly;

[0019] The No. 3 interface and the No. 1 interface of one of the second four-way valves in the second four-way valve assembly are connected, and the mass spectrometer is connected to the gas chromatograph at the No. 3 interface of the second four-way valve. After the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph are separated, they enter the mass spectrometer for detection.

[0020] Furthermore, the detection method comprises the following steps:

[0021] Connecting the No. 2 port and the No. 1 port of the first four-way valve;

[0022] Connecting the second interface and the first interface of the adjacent second four-way valve;

[0023] Connecting the No. 2 interface of the first four-way valve to the No. 1 interface of the second four-way valve at the end of the second four-way valve assembly;

[0024] The first and second interfaces of the second four-way valve at the head end of the second four-way valve assembly are connected, and the mass spectrometer is connected to the gas chromatograph at the second interface of the second four-way valve. After the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph are separated, they enter the mass spectrometer for detection.

[0025] Furthermore, the detection method comprises the following steps:

[0026] Connecting the second interface and the first interface of the adjacent second four-way valve;

[0027] Connecting the No. 2 interface of the first four-way valve to the No. 1 interface of the second four-way valve at the end of the second four-way valve assembly;

[0028] Connecting the first four-way valve to the first interface and the third interface;

[0029] The mass spectrometer is connected to the gas chromatograph at the third interface of the first four-way valve, and the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph are separated and then enter the mass spectrometer for detection.

[0030] The gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface device of the present application can connect multiple gas chromatographs and a mass spectrometer. Since the types of substances separated by the multiple gas chromatographs are different, there will be large differences in the separation time, thereby ensuring that the gas chromatograph can send the separated samples into the mass spectrometer in sequence within different time periods, and then detect different types of substances respectively.

[0031] Therefore, the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface device of the present application can utilize the time difference of the material separation process to realize the time-sharing multiplexing of multiple gas chromatographs and one mass spectrometer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface device provided in this application.

[0033] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a time-division multiplexing interface device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following is a more detailed description of the specific implementation of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples, so that the scheme of the present invention and its advantages in various aspects can be better understood. However, the specific implementation and examples described below are only for the purpose of illustration, rather than limitation of the present invention.

[0035] The "connection" described in this application, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, should be understood in a broad sense, and can be directly connected or connected through an intermediate medium. In the description of this application, it should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", etc. are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface device proposed in the present application includes a first four-way valve 1 and a second four-way valve assembly, wherein the second four-way valve assembly includes one or more second four-way valves 2.

[0037] The gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface device proposed in this application can make multiple gas chromatographs use the same mass spectrometer together, and multiple gas chromatographs can use the mass spectrometer to perform detection and analysis of substances in different time periods, thereby avoiding mutual interference between substances with different separation times. Specifically, in the gas chromatograph separation technology, with gas as mobile phase, a mixture of multiple components can be separated into a single component. Wherein, due to the different distribution coefficients between the gas mobile phase and the stationary phase in the chromatographic column of different substances, the running speed of each component in the mixture in the chromatographic column is also different, and after a chromatographic column of a certain column length, each component is separated and sequentially leaves the chromatograph to achieve separation of the mixture. The mass spectrometer can ionize the molecules of the substance, and separate and analyze the ions according to the mass-to-charge ratio, and finally complete the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the substance.

[0038] In the time-division multiplexing interface device of the present application, the first four-way valve 1 has a first interface 11, a second interface 12, a third interface 13 and a fourth interface 14. The second four-way valve 2 has a first interface 21, a second interface 22, a third interface 23 and a fourth interface 24.

[0039] like Figure 1In the time-division multiplexing interface device shown, in the second four-way valve assembly, when the second four-way valve assembly includes multiple second four-way valves 2, the multiple second four-way valves 2 are connected in sequence. In addition, the No. 1 interface 21 and the No. 2 interface 22 of every two adjacent second four-way valves 2 are connected respectively. The No. 3 interface 23 of the second four-way valve 2 is connected to the gas chromatograph 3. Optionally, the No. 4 interface 24 of the second four-way valve 2 is used for emptying.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, the first interface 11 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to the mass spectrometer 4. The third interface 13 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to the gas chromatograph 3. The second interface 12 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to the first interface 21 of the second four-way valve 2 at the end position of the second four-way valve assembly. Optionally, the fourth interface 14 of the first four-way valve 1 is used for emptying.

[0041] Optionally, in the second four-way valve assembly, the second interface 22 of the second four-way valve 2 at the head end is connected to the gas chromatograph 3. In different embodiments of the present application, the second interface 22 of the second four-way valve 2 at other positions may also be connected to the gas chromatograph, and the corresponding connection methods of the remaining interfaces will change, which will not be repeated here.

[0042] When the time-sharing multiplexing interface device of the present application includes a first four-way valve 1 and N second four-way valves 2, the interface device can include (N+2) gas chromatographs and a mass spectrometer, thereby realizing time-sharing multiplexing of (N+2) gas chromatographs for one mass spectrometer.

[0043] As an optional embodiment of the present application, the mass spectrometer and gas chromatograph are connected to the corresponding interfaces via gas pipelines, and the interfaces are also connected via gas pipelines. In addition, the inner diameter of each gas pipeline is the same as the inner diameter of the interface connected at both ends, so as to avoid diffusion of the sample in the gas pipeline. In actual operation, the inner diameter of each gas pipeline may be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the interface connected at both ends, or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the interface connected at both ends.

[0044] Optionally, the gas pipelines in the present application all adopt passivated pipelines to avoid adsorption effects when different types of samples come into contact with the pipelines, thereby affecting separation and analysis.

[0045] In the drawings of the present application, for the convenience of description, multiple gas chromatographs are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0046] As an optional embodiment of the present application, both the first four-way valve 1 and the second four-way valve 2 are two-position four-way valves. In the present application, the specific type of the two-position four-way valve used is not limited, and can be selected according to the requirements of different working environments in different embodiments.

[0047] Furthermore, in the time-sharing multiplexing interface device of the present application, the inner diameters of interface No. 1 11, interface No. 2 12, and interface No. 3 13 of the first four-way valve 1 are the same as or similar to the inner diameter of the chromatographic column in the gas chromatograph 3 connected to interface No. 3 of the first four-way valve 1, so that the interfaces can be tightly connected and sealed through the gas pipeline, avoiding the possible influence of the diffusion of sample substances in the gas pipeline on the separation process.

[0048] Furthermore, in the second four-way valve assembly of the present application, the inner diameters of interface No. 1 21, interface No. 22, and interface No. 3 23 of the multiple second four-way valves 2 are the same as or similar to the inner diameters of the chromatographic columns in the gas chromatographs 3 to which they are connected, so that the interfaces can be tightly connected and sealed through the gas pipeline, thereby avoiding the possible influence of the diffusion of sample substances in the gas pipeline on the separation process.

[0049] As an optional implementation of the present application, the fourth interface of the first four-way valve 1 and the second four-way valve 2 are both used for emptying, which can ensure that when one of the gas chromatographs 3 is connected to the mass spectrometer 4 for sample detection, the outlets of the remaining gas chromatographs 3 will not be closed, thereby ensuring that all the gas chromatographs 3 are in working condition.

[0050] As one of the embodiments of the present application, a first four-way valve 1 and a second four-way valve 2 are provided in the time-division multiplexing interface device of the present application. Figure 2 shown.

[0051] like Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the first interface 11 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to a mass spectrometer 4. The third interface 13 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to a gas chromatograph 3. The fourth interface 14 of the first four-way valve 1 is used for evacuation.

[0052] The second interface 22 of the second four-way valve 2 is connected to a gas chromatograph 3. The third interface 23 of the second four-way valve 2 is connected to a gas chromatograph 3. The fourth interface 24 of the second four-way valve 2 is used for exhaust.

[0053] Furthermore, the second interface 12 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to the first interface 21 of the second four-way valve 2 .

[0054] The gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-division multiplexing interface device of this embodiment can realize time-division multiplexing of three gas chromatographs and one mass spectrometer.

[0055] In the present application, different numbers of gas chromatographs and mass spectrometers may be provided according to different work process requirements.

[0056] The present application also proposes a method for detection using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface device. In the detection method proposed in the present application, by controlling the change in the position of the valve core of the first four-way valve 1 and the valve core of the second four-way valve 2, the mass spectrometer is connected to different gas chromatographs respectively, so that the substance to be tested in the gas chromatograph can enter the mass spectrometer for qualitative and quantitative detection after separation.

[0057] In the detection method of the present application, the mass spectrometer can be connected to the gas chromatograph at different positions in the following three ways:

[0058] (1) The second port 12 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to the first port 11, the third port 13 and the fourth port 14 respectively.

[0059] The first interface 21 and the second interface 22 of the adjacent second four-way valves 2 are connected, so that the plurality of second four-way valves 2 are arranged in sequence.

[0060] The second interface 12 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to the first interface 21 of the second four-way valve 2 at the end position of the second four-way valve assembly.

[0061] For one of the second four-way valves 2 in the second four-way valve assembly, the first interface 21 and the third interface 23, the second interface 22 and the fourth interface 24 of the second four-way valve 2 are respectively connected. In addition, for the remaining second four-way valves 2 in the second four-way valve assembly except the second four-way valve 2, the first interface 21 and the second interface 22, the third interface 23 and the fourth interface 24 are respectively connected.

[0062] In this connection mode, the mass spectrometer 4 is connected to the gas chromatograph 3 connected to the third interface 23 of one of the second four-way valves 2 mentioned above, and the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph 3 can enter the mass spectrometer 4 for qualitative and quantitative detection after separation.

[0063] (2) The second port 12 and the first port 11, the third port 13 and the fourth port 14 of the first four-way valve 1 are connected respectively.

[0064] The first interface 21 and the second interface 22 of the adjacent second four-way valves 2 are connected, so that the plurality of second four-way valves 2 are arranged in sequence.

[0065] The second interface 12 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to the first interface 21 of the second four-way valve 2 at the end position of the second four-way valve assembly.

[0066] The first interface 21, the second interface 22, the third interface 23 and the fourth interface 24 of the second four-way valve 2 at the head end of the second four-way valve assembly are connected.

[0067] In this connection mode, the mass spectrometer 4 is connected to the gas chromatograph 3 at the second interface 22 of the second four-way valve 2 at the head end of the second four-way valve assembly. The substance to be tested in the gas chromatograph 3 can enter the mass spectrometer 4 for qualitative and quantitative detection after separation.

[0068] (3) The first interface 21 and the second interface 22 of the adjacent second four-way valves 2 are connected, so that the plurality of second four-way valves 2 are arranged in sequence.

[0069] The second interface 12 of the first four-way valve 1 is connected to the first interface 21 of the second four-way valve 2 at the end position of the second four-way valve assembly.

[0070] The first four-way valve 1 is connected to the first interface 11 and the third interface 13, and the second interface 12 and the fourth interface 14 respectively.

[0071] In this connection mode, the mass spectrometer 4 is connected to the gas chromatograph 3 at the third interface 13 of the first four-way valve 1, and the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph 3 can enter the mass spectrometer 4 for qualitative and quantitative detection after separation.

[0072] The gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-sharing multiplexing interface device of the present application can connect multiple gas chromatographs and a mass spectrometer. Since the types of substances separated by the multiple gas chromatographs are different, there will be large differences in the separation time, thereby ensuring that the gas chromatograph can send the separated samples into the mass spectrometer in sequence within different time periods, and then detect different types of substances.

[0073] Furthermore, since interfaces for emptying are provided on the first four-way valve and the second four-way valve, when one of the gas chromatographs is connected to the mass spectrometer for operation, the outlets of the remaining gas chromatographs will not be closed and will also be in an operating state, but the samples therein have not yet been separated and flowed out of the gas chromatographs.

[0074] The gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-division multiplexing interface device of the present application can utilize the time difference of the material separation process to realize the time-division multiplexing of multiple gas chromatographs and one mass spectrometer.

[0075] Finally, it should be noted that: Obviously, the above embodiments are only examples for clearly explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation methods. For ordinary technicians in the relevant field, other different forms of changes or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to list all the implementation methods here. The obvious changes or modifications derived from this are still within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-division multiplexing interface device, characterized in that: The interface device is provided with a first four-way valve and a second four-way valve assembly, wherein the second four-way valve assembly includes one or more second four-way valves; The first interface of the first four-way valve is connected to a mass spectrometer, the third interface is connected to a gas chromatograph, the second interface of the first four-way valve is connected to the first interface of the second four-way valve at the end of the second four-way valve assembly, and the fourth interface of the first four-way valve is used for exhaust; In the second four-way valve assembly, the No. 1 interface and the No. 2 interface of adjacent second four-way valves are connected respectively, so that the plurality of second four-way valves are connected in sequence, the No. 3 interface of the second four-way valve is connected to the gas chromatograph, and the No. 4 interface of the second four-way valve is used for evacuation, so that when one gas chromatograph and the mass spectrometer perform sample detection, the outlets of the remaining gas chromatographs are opened, and each gas chromatograph is in working state; Furthermore, the second interface of the second four-way valve at the head end of the second four-way valve assembly is connected to the gas chromatograph.

2. The time division multiplexing interface device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first four-way valve and the second four-way valve are both two-position four-way valves.

3. The time division multiplexing interface device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner diameters of the No. 1 interface, the No. 2 interface and the No. 3 interface of the first four-way valve are the same as or similar to the inner diameter of the chromatographic column in the connected gas chromatograph.

4. The time division multiplexing interface device according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the second four-way valve assembly, the inner diameters of the No. 1 interface, the No. 2 interface, and the No. 3 interface of the plurality of second four-way valves are the same as or similar to the inner diameter of the chromatographic column in the connected gas chromatograph.

5. A method for detection using the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer time-division multiplexing interface device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: By controlling the change of the valve core positions of the first four-way valve and the second four-way valve, the mass spectrometer is connected to different gas chromatographs respectively, and the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph are separated and then enter the mass spectrometer for detection.

6. The detection method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The steps include: Connecting the No. 2 port and the No. 1 port of the first four-way valve; Connecting the second interface and the first interface of the adjacent second four-way valve; Connecting the No. 2 interface of the first four-way valve to the No. 1 interface of the second four-way valve at the end of the second four-way valve assembly; The No. 3 interface and the No. 1 interface of one of the second four-way valves in the second four-way valve assembly are connected, and the mass spectrometer is connected to the gas chromatograph at the No. 3 interface of the second four-way valve. After the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph are separated, they enter the mass spectrometer for detection.

7. The detection method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The steps include: Connecting the No. 2 port and the No. 1 port of the first four-way valve; Connecting the second interface and the first interface of the adjacent second four-way valve; Connecting the No. 2 interface of the first four-way valve to the No. 1 interface of the second four-way valve at the end of the second four-way valve assembly; The first and second interfaces of the second four-way valve at the head end of the second four-way valve assembly are connected, and the mass spectrometer is connected to the gas chromatograph at the second interface of the second four-way valve. After the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph are separated, they enter the mass spectrometer for detection.

8. The detection method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The steps include: Connecting the second interface and the first interface of the adjacent second four-way valve; Connecting the No. 2 interface of the first four-way valve to the No. 1 interface of the second four-way valve at the end of the second four-way valve assembly; Connecting the first four-way valve to the first interface and the third interface; The mass spectrometer is connected to the gas chromatograph at the No. 3 interface of the first four-way valve, and the substances to be tested in the gas chromatograph are separated and then enter the mass spectrometer for detection.

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