Solids-based in-source reagent ion production device for chemical ionization and method using the same

Abstract

Generally the embodiments of the present disclosure relate to ion identification-based mass analysis (MS), and more particularly to ionization device (100) and a related ionization device system (100S) being able to use solid reagent material (101) for reagent ion [R(101 )+ / -] formation for a chemical ionization of samples (S) being sampled. Embodiments also concern use of a selected precursor material as for example urea in solid form.

Description

In source reagent ion production device from solids for Chemical Ionization and method using the sameTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Generally the present invention relates to Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry (QMS). In more particular, the present disclosure of the embodiments of the invention pertains to an in-source reagent ion production device, an ionization device, including in the operation ions from solids for Chemical Ionization and to a method using the same.BACKGROUND

[0002] Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry (QMS), which is a widely used method for chemical analysis that relies on producing Chemical Ionization (CI) reagent ions that then after the production collides with neutral molecules in the ion-molecule reactor (IMR), so producing product ions that then can be detected by suitable ion detection device, such as a mass spectrometer.

[0003] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been discussed here as background or examples as included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.

[0004] However, in general, reliance on gaseous or liquid delivery of the reagent to the ionization source has been used as such. In case of gaseous delivery, the reagent has to be of relatively high vapor pressure to create significant gas phase concentrations of the reagent which limits and complicates the choice of suitable reagent substance. In case of liquids, it limits choice of ionization source to electro spray or similar liquid device which again comes at a price of complexity and stability of the reagent ion production. Both such methods based on gaseous orliquid delivery may corollary suffer from instabilities and thus may require constant adjustments and refilling of reagent precursors.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The objective is to at least alleviate the limitations as experienced as problems among the corollaries, described hereinabove not satisfactorily being solved by the known arrangements, and to provide a feasible device and a device operation related method, but also material to be used in the method.

[0006] The aforesaid objective is achieved by the embodiments of a system / method in accordance with the present disclosure of the embodiments of the invention.

[0007] The aforesaid objective(s) are achieved according to the disclosure of the embodiments of the present invention as claimed in claim 1.

[0008] An ionization device according to the present disclosure for detection of substances by a mass analyzer is comprising (items from a) to e)) a) an ion source, b) an electrode arrangement whose electrodes are made of conductive materials, c) a holder device made of non-conductive (isolating) material; the holder device being placed in the empty space between the electrodes in b) to hold the reagent precursor material in the immediate vicinity of the ion source in a) d) a solid reagent precursor granules, pellets, crystals or other solid form to be placed in a holder device for consequent ionization, e) a flush flow means to provide flush flow of a medium keeping the ionization volume operationally separate and clean from an IMR to be filled with the sample flow.

[0009] The ionization device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is capable of measuring a wide range of complex gas matrices and compounds for detection of one or more substances in the group consisting of ammonia, amines, acidic compounds, basic compounds, volatile organic compounds, terpenoids, highly oxidized molecules, organo-phosphorous substance, tiols, aromatic-tiols, heterocylic-mercaptane based substances. However, the list is not exhausting and limiting the substances only to the list indicated substances.

[0010] The ionization device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises as an ion source at least one of the following: an X-ray radiation source, radioactive radiation source, VUV lamp or xenon lamp, dielectric barrier discharge, plasma discharge or corona discharge ionization source, as the ion source being arranged to ionize reagent precursor in an ionization geometry. In embodiments, while operating in the vicinity of the solid reagent precursor materials, the utilized radiation sources may promote partitioning of the reagent molecules and gaseous decomposition products from the surfaces of precursor solid via processes of electronic excitation, ionization, sputtering or radiolysis. Thus, promoting partitioning of material from otherwise very low volatility substance.

[0011] The ionization device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises such electrodes that are configured into an electrode geometry to produce an electric field to guide the ion-source produced ions away from the ionization region of the reagent.

[0012] The electric field can be embodied as a DC-field to guide the reagent ions from the ionization volume, as formed therein, to the entry opening to the Ion Molecule Reactor (IMR).

[0013] As there is a curtain flow being maintained to prevent substances to drift directly or by diffusion from the IMR to the ionization volume, which preventive curtain flow can be embodied by an ion injector, that is used for the guidance ofreagent ions, the prevention can be made in the curtain flow, that is partly an upstream the flow, but partly downstream the flow at the entrance to the IMR via an injector, as observed from the reagent flow perspective, as being guided by the guiding electric field.

[0014] The ionization device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprise such a holder device that has been made of PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) or PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylene), kyanite based substances as such or doped for higher resistivity, SiCh, AI2O3, or another isolating ceramic, or alike isolating material, isolating other polymers, or a combination of the mentioned substance.

[0015] The ionization device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a holder part, of the embodied holder device, the holder part being adapted to hold and feed solid reagent precursors in a utilization form of the reagent material at least one of the following utilization forms: granules, pellets, crystals, bars or other solid form to be placed in a holder device for consequent ionization.

[0016] The feeding can be based on gravity and / or a push (mechanical, hydraulic and / or pneumatic) according to the consumption of the material. A skilled person in the art can provide such a feed as based on his / her education when accessed to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] The ionization device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a flush flow means to keep ionization volume operationally separate and clean from the IMR contained substances, which are filled in the sample flow and might contain wide range of matrices and compounds. An ion injector can be addressed to provide the flow, in addition to the reagent ion entrance providing to the IMR.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the flush flow means comprises at least one of the following, a suction device to produce a flow based on suction, a mass flowcontroller, critical orifice, a pump, a fan and a blower, and means to produce positive pressure flow to create a curtain of dry clean gas.

[0019] A Chemical ionization method according to the present disclosure of the embodiments for detection of substances by a mass analyzer uses Urea in solid form precursor for a reagent material in the reagent ion R( 101 ) “ production for chemical ionization reagent production in ionization device. According to a variant, in addition to the Urea, also other substances can be used together in the solid reagent material composition.

[0020] A detection method according to the present disclosure of the embodiments is using the ionization device according to the present disclosure of the embodiments in detection of wide range of compounds as embodied, as being sampled for detection based on mass-analysis.

[0021] The detection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises ion production by such an ion source that comprises a soft x- ray source being used in the ion production.

[0022] The detection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises using Urea as a solid reagent precursor in a solid utilization form, according to the embodied chemical ionization method.

[0023] The detection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure uses mass analysis as based on the detection that is being based on produced reagent ions R( 101 ) “ adducted on sample analytes via a chemical ionization method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] The detection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises guiding the utilized reagent ions (R(l 01)+ / " ions to the IMR (Ion-Molecule Reactor) with an electric field and against a flush flow, and injected therein into the IMR.

[0025] The detection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises leading and injecting into the IMR the reagent ions (R( 101 )+ / " , to collide with in an adduct formation, with the sample molecule analytes toproduce ion clusters A-R(101)+ / ', via chemical ionization, for an ion detection in mass analysis by a mass analyzer, in a further phase of the method.

[0026] The detection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises detection of the adduct ions by a detector based being based on Ion Mobility Spectrometer, Mass Spectrometer or similar mass analysis device.

[0027] The detection method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is direct to detection of one or more substances in the group consisting of ammonia, amines, acidic compounds, basic compounds, volatile organic compounds, terpenoids, highly oxidized molecules, organo-phosphorous substance, tiols, aromatic-tiols, heterocylic-mercaptane based substances.

[0028] An ion detection system according to the present disclosure of embodiments of the invention comprises an ionization device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a mass analysis device in a mass analysis arrangement comprising at least one of the following: Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS), Mass Spectrometer (MS) or similar mass analysis device (MAD).

[0029] The utility of the present invention follows from a plurality of factors depending on each particular embodiment.

[0030] Embodiments of the present disclosure intend to alleviate the limitations and problematic experienced issues in the known liquid and gaseous based techniques in mass analysis of ions, and accordingly to allow the use of solids as reagent sources in much simplified and streamlined arrangement. As well, the present disclosure discloses a novel reagent that shows great promises in ionizing a wide range of compounds, including ammonia and amines - currently problematic compounds to be detected within the existing QMS. The ionization device or a similarly functionable arrangement builds upon known techniques as such in applicable part, where electrodes are used to guide reagent ions from the ionization volume.

[0031] One aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure is to place a solid substance with low vapor pressure in an empty space that can be set to a desiredpressure conditions, (according to an embodiment therebetween a vacuum up to one atmospheric pressure, or alternatively into a higher pressure up to 10 bars) between the electrodes (inter-electrode space, as in an embodiment also the ionization volume) and directly into the ionization volume against an ion source such as an X-ray (alternatively photoionization source, VUV -light source (Vacuum Ultra Violet) or VUV-lamp or xenon lamp, plasma discharge, corona discharge or dielectric barrier discharge). In embodiments, a flush flow counter direction to reagent ion flux is being maintained in the pressure and temperature conditions of the ionization volume.

[0032] This way ionization source in embodiments will ionize the substance molecules directly from the solid substance surface or from its immediate vicinity reaching high local concentrations of reagent precursor and electrodes and will push the resulting ions into IMR (Ion Molecular Reactor), via an injector, arranged also to maintain a flow part to prevent substances to escape from the IMR into the IV. Accordingly this enables the use of solid, low vapor pressure reagent precursors in a direct and streamlined manner.

[0033] In addition, in embodiments, where applicable, while operating in the vicinity of the solid reagent precursor materials, the utilized radiation sources as selected may promote partitioning of the reagent molecules and gaseous decomposition products from the surfaces of precursor solid via processes of electronic excitation, ionization, sputtering or radiolysis. Thus, promoting partitioning of material from otherwise very low volatility substance.

[0034] As a surprising bonus, such reagent precursors can last many months or even years without the need of refilling and opens a path of using novel substances such as Urea that show promises as a clean and efficient chemical ionization reagent.

[0035] In addition, Urea as such is a cheap, available and stable compound with low vapor pressure that exhibits very strong clustering properties towardsmultitude of compounds. It is also known for instance from atmospheric sciences that atmospheric urea forms clusters with acids, bases and many other compounds.

[0036] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

[0037] The expression “a number of’ refers herein to any positive integer starting from one (1), e.g., to one, two, or three.

[0038] The expression “a plurality of’ refers herein to any positive integer starting from two (2), e.g., to two, three, or four.

[0039] Different embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED DRAWINGS

[0040] Next the invention is described in more detail in examples with reference to the appended drawings (Figs) in which

[0041] Fig.l illustrates embodiments according to the present disclosure of embodiments of the invention, the view can be from side or from atop,

[0042] Fig. 2 illustrates an embodied detection method using an embodied device or system comprising such a device in the detection method,

[0043] Fig. 3a to Fig 3d illustrate examples on utilization forms of solid reagent materials,

[0044] Fig 4 illustrate an embodied alternative ionization device system, and

[0045] Fig 5 illustrates a detail in an embodiment relating to Fig 1 for a potential to constitute an electric field.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0046] In the following, example on embodiments of the present disclosure of the invention are illustrated. Same numbers are used to denote to similar kind of objects in the drawings (i.e., Figs), which do not need to be exactly the same as in other drawings, but a skilled person in the art can realize the difference by the education when accesses to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0047] Fig. 1 illustrates examples on embodiments of the present disclosure of the invention directed to ionization device and its use in an ionization device system as a system element. However, a functionally similar arrangement can be formed from the corresponding parts, which do not need to be in the same cover.

[0048] A skilled person is able to provide the controls and other infra structure for materials and electricity, to control and maintain the operation of the ionization device 100 and a related ionization device 100 system 100S, by the education of such a skilled person, as based on the access to the present disclosure.

[0049] In Fig. 1 example there is illustrated an ionization device 100 comprising a) an ion source 103 as a source of ionization to produce ionization at a ionization zone, b) an electrode arrangement 102 whose electrodes 102 are made of conductive materials, c) a holder device 104 made of non-conductive (isolating) material, the holder device 104 being placed in the empty space between the electrodes 102 in b) to hold the solid reagents 101 of reagent precursor material in the immediate vicinity of the ion source 103 in a), d) a solid reagent precursor 101 pieces, that can be used as granules, pellets, crystals or other solid form to be placed in a holder device (104) for consequent ionization by the ion source 103, e) a flush flow means (105) to provide flush flow F of a medium, keeping the ionization volume operationally separate and clean from an IMR to be filled with the sample flow S. The flush flow as such, for the curtain flows, can be maintained by clean gas source CG, from which a suitable part can be directed to the IMR via a reagent ion injector 111, the injector being used for entry of the reagent ions.

[0050] According to an embodiment, the sample as formed from the originally sampled analytes A, led into the IMR, therein being chemically ionized by the reagent ions R(101)+from the solid reagent material 101, in the IMR, are directed therefrom to mass analysis by a mass analyzer MS. The mass analyzer can be embodied as a mass spectrometer.

[0051] According to an embodiment illustrated, the ion source 103 is based on x-rays in the example of Fig 1 in the radiation geometry as ionization geometry. However, it is not intended to limit the scope only to the x-rays as such for producing the ions from the solid reagent material 101. Similar geometry is applicable to such ionization device’s ion R(101)+ / ' sources 103 as soft X-ray radiation source, radioactive radiation source (alfa, beta and / or gamma ray sources), VUV-lamp or xenon lamp, and / or corona discharge ionization source so that such an ion source 103 being arranged to produce and ionize reagent material precursor 101 in the corresponding ionization geometry in (to) the ionization volume IV.

[0052] In some embodiments, while operating in the vicinity of the solid reagent precursor materials, the utilized radiation sources may promote partitioning of the reagent molecules and gaseous decomposition products from the surfaces of precursor solid via processes of electronic excitation, ionization, sputtering or radiolysis. Thus, promoting partitioning of material from otherwise very low volatility substance.

[0053] In Fig 1 the solid reagent material 101 is held by a holder 104. The holder device 104 can be made for example of PEEK or PTFE, kyanite, SIO2, AI2O3, or a further isolating ceramic, or alike isolating material such as a polymer, or a combination thereof.

[0054] The holder 104 (also as holder device as a synonym) can have a holder part of the holder 104, being adapted to hold and feed solid reagent precursors 101 pieces (n=6, as a non-limiting number of such in the example) in a utilization form of at least one of the following utilization forms: granules, pellets, crystals, bars or other solid form to be placed in a holder 104 for consequent ionization.

[0055] The holder 104 can be attached to an ensemble (m=8, as a non-limiting number of such electrodes in the example) of the electrodes 102, so to facilitate electric field utilization for guiding the produced reagent ions R(101)+. Although positive polarity indicated, a skilled person in the art can select the polarity by selection of the reagent material 101 and / or the ion source, so that alternatively also negative ions R(101)’ are feasible.

[0056] At the right in Fig 1, it is illustrated also that the electrodes 102 in right column of such forms a collimator structure, to direct and restrict the ionization effect smoothly to the formed channel aiming to the reagent material pieces 101 at an adjacent position in the ionization volume IV, in the geometry, for release reagent ions R(101) / +. into the ionization volume, to be directed to the IMR, for the use in chemical ionization.

[0057] The collimation is operative to X-rays, including soft X-rays, gamma rays, or particle radiation) into the specific direction and angle based on the ionization geometry and the defining dimensions by length and width of the channel. Accordingly the main purpose of the collimator in the embodiments is to prevent the scattering of radiation and ensure that the radiation travels mainly to the desired direction along the channels between the electrodes 102.

[0058] Accordingly this reduces stray radiation, improves the quality and precision of the radiation beam towards the targeted reagent material 101 pieces, and so allows for more accurate but also even targeting of the radiation to reagent material pieces 101.

[0059] According to embodiments the electrode 102 are made of conductive material, such as metal that tolerates the used ion source originating radiation and / or corona charge in such embodiments that use such based ionization, and the electrodes 102 are also capable to reflect the used radiation in the channels towards the respective reagent material 101 targets, in an applicable way.

[0060] The holder 104 of the reagent material 101 pieces (cf. Fig 3a to Fig 3d) is advantageously made of a non-conductive material, i.e., from isolative material, so not to short circuit the electrodes 102.

[0061] It is also possible, that the holder 104 is integrated to the electrodes at the left, in suitable part, so that the reagent material 101 is dosed according to the consumption via the channels, but dosed by the holder to hold the reagent material 101 in use.

[0062] As illustrated in the example of Fig 1, the embodied ionization device (100) according to the disclosure can comprise a flush flow (F) means 105 to keep ionization volume IV operationally separate and clean from the ion-molecule reactor IMR’s drifting side -products or other sampled material, which is filled with the sample flow S and might so contain a wide range of matrices and compounds.

[0063] The flow F can be scaled against the diffusion based spreading mechanism, so to keep the ionization volume IV of the reagent material 101 free from the IMR-originating materials that might otherwise drift there from by diffusion for example. According to an embodiment the flush flow F is provided into laminar region, in avoidance of mixing, in the turbulent or near turbulent transition flow regime.

[0064] The flush flow F can be implemented by flush flow means 105, that can comprise at least one of the following, a suction device to produce a flush flow F based on suction, a pump, a fan and a blower, to provide the flush flow F. Mass flow meters can be used, critical orifices and pressure meters to maintain the curtain flow preventing the substance to escape from the IMR to the IV.

[0065] In Fig 1 example the dashed line is indicative of an ionization device 100. However, such a device can be implemented alternatively by an arrangement, whose parts may be not inside the same cover, but the schematic structure can be the same as in the Fig 1 example. The mass analyzer MS can be an external to ionization device 100, as illustrated in Fig 1 drawing.

[0066] Alternatively the mass analyzer MS can be a part of an ionization device system 100S, as a part of an ionization device or arrangement implemented by such an ionization device system 100S. Although one ionization device 100 being illustrated in Fig. 1, the number of ionization devices 100 is not limited only to the shown example, but the embodied system according to the present disclosure can comprise two or more such ionization devices, the number being limited by the capability of the mass analyzer MS to handle such a number of ionization devices 100 in the ionization device system 100S. That is further illustrated in Fig 4.

[0067] Fig 2 is illustrative a detection method 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, by using an embodied ionization device 100 or a related ionization device system 100S comprising such a ionization device 100 as a ionization device in the ionization system or a device-corresponding arrangement with the respective parts, which do not need to be in the arrangement under the same cover.

[0068] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the detection method 200 an embodied ionization device 100 or an ionization device system 100S comprising such an ionization device 100 is used in detection of wide range of compounds.

[0069] Such compounds can be acidic compounds, basic compound (ammonia, amines), volatile organic compounds, terpenoids, highly oxidized molecules organo-phosphorous substances, tiols, aromatic-tiols, heterocylic-mercaptane based substances. Where applicable, a heteroatom can belong to a selection from Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulphur and Phosphorous. Furthermore, some of such compounds can be contaminants or illicit substances that pose health hazards or security risks.

[0070] According to an embodiment, the detection method 200 comprises producing 201 reagent ions R(101 )+or R(101)', also indicated as R(101 )+A, from a solid reagent material 101 by an ion source 103, as considered a source of ionization, which can be a source of soft X-rays, or other suitable source ofradiation as embodied, and / or a corona discharge device. Fig 1 also illustrates use of reagent precursor use as reagent production to be used in chemical ionization for ionizing analytes (A) in a sampled sample (S). According to an embodiment, the reagent material being used is Urea, or comprises Urea.

[0071] According to an embodiment the reagent material 101 being used comprises Urea as a solid reagent material 100 as a precursor in a solid utilization form (Figs 3a to 3c, 3d). Alternatively, it is possible to provide a solid reagent material 101 as a mixture of reagent materials 101 (as illustrated for the composition of the reagent material 101 in Fig 3d by the diagonal texture filling) with a predefined composition, with suitable selected components, so that there can be produced into the IMR several respective species of ions for several ionization products in the chemical ionization in the IMR, targeting to different respective analytes A. According to an embodiment variant, for example salts of Urea Nitrate, Ammonium Nitrate, Natrium Chloride can be considered where applicable. In some embodiments, as where applicable, Potassium nitrate and / or Potassium bromide can be used for producing nitrate and / or bromine ions, respectively.

[0072] According to an embodiment of the detection method (200), the reagent ions R( 101 )+ / " (such as urea ions, for example, as the polarity being a controllable according to the ionization and the target material(s), the polarity sign may be not shown in explicit) are guided 202 and injected 203 into the IMR (ion molecule reactor) by an electric field and in direction against a flush flow F.

[0073] According to an embodiment of the method, the reagent ions R(101) are allowed to expose in adduct formation 204 the sample molecule analytes A to produce ion clusters (A- R(101)+A) via chemical ionization by the corresponding reagent ions R( 101 )+Afor an ion detection in a further phase of the method 200 in a mass analysis (MS).

[0074] According to an embodiment the detection method (200) comprises detection (205) of the ions by a mass detector (MS) being based on mass analyzer(MS) being implemented by an Ion Mobility Spectrometer, Mass Spectrometer or similar mass analysis device (MAD).

[0075] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an embodied ion detection system 100S is illustrated via the Fig 1, but also in synergy to it, in Fig 4, comprising alternatively one or more ionization devices 100 according to an embodiment, and a mass analysis device MS in the ionization device system 100S comprising at least one of the following: Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS), Mass Spectrometer (MS) or similar mass analysis device (MAD).

[0076] According to an embodiment, an electric field to guide reagent ions from the ionization volume IV to the injector 111 and via it to the IMR is schematically illustrated in Fig 5. The potential V is connected there between the injector and an electrode 102, as used for an electric field constitution for ion guidance. The potential Vm is illustrative, that there can be several electrodes 102, which all or suitable ensemble of them, can be set to electrode specific potential Vm, which can be the same for all of the electrodes, but can vary from electrode to another, for example to form a ladder for the ion injection purposes. The number of of electrodes is not limited to the example number shown in Fig 1 or m in Fig 5, which is indicated by the three dots.

[0077] Consequently, a skilled person may on the basis of this disclosure and general knowledge apply the provided teachings in order to implement the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims in each particular use case with necessary modifications, deletions, and additions.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An ionization device (100), for detection of substances by a mass analyzer, comprising- a) an ion source (103),- b) an electrode arrangement (102) whose electrodes (102) are made of conductive materials,- c) a holder device (104) made of non-conductive (isolating) material; the holder device (104) being placed in the empty space between the electrodes (102) in b) to hold the solid reagents (101) of reagent precursor material in the immediate vicinity of the ion source (103) in a)- d) a solid reagent precursor (101) as granules, pellets, crystals or other solid form to be placed in a holder device (104) for consequent ionization by the ion source (103),- e) a flush flow means (105) to provide flush flow (F) of a medium, keeping the ionization volume operationally separate and clean from an IMR to be filled with the sample flow (S).

2. The ionization device (100) of claim 1, wherein the ionization device comprises as an ion (R(101)) source (103) an X-ray radiation source, radioactive radiation source, VUV lamp or xenon lamp, dielectric discharge or corona discharge ionization source, the ion source (103) being arranged to produce and ionize reagent precursor (101) in an ionization geometry.

3. The ionization device (100) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said electrodes (102) are configured into an ionization geometry to produce an electric field, to guide the ion-source produced ions (R(101)+A) away from the ionization region to of the IMR for chemical ionization of molecules.

4. The ionization device (100) according to anyone of the previous claims, comprising such a holder device (104) being made of PEEK or PTFE,kyanite, S1O2, AI2O3, or another isolating ceramic, or alike isolating material or a combination thereof.

5. The ionization device (100) according to anyone of the previous claims, comprising a holder part, of the holder device (104), adapted to hold and feed solid reagent precursors (101) in a utilization form of at least one of the following utilization forms: granules, pellets, crystals, bars or other solid form to be placed in a holder device (104) for consequent ionization.

6. The ionization device (100) according to anyone of the previous claims, comprising a flush flow means (105) to keep ionization volume (IV) operationally separate and clean from the ion-molecule reactor (IMR) contained substance, wherein the flush flow means (105) comprises at least one of the following, a suction device to produce a flush flow (F) based on suction, a mass flow controller, critical orifice, a pump, a fan and a blower, to provide the flush flow (F), and means to produce positive pressure flow to create a curtain of dry clean gas.

7. A Chemical ionization method using Urea, in solid form as a reagent material precursor for reagent ion (R(101)+ / ‘) production, as a chemical ionization reagent in a reagent production in an ionization device ( 100) for detection of substances (A) by a mass analyzer (MS).

8. The Chemical ionization method of claim 7, wherein the Urea is used in a solid form precursor for a reagent material (101) in the reagent ion (R(101)+A) production in a detection method (200) based on ionization device (100) utilization for detection of substances (A) in a mass analysis (200, 205).

9. A detection method (200) of using an ionization device (100), (100S) according to anyone of the claim 1 to 6 in detection of sampled (S) compounds (A) as based on mass analysis (MS).

10. The detection method (200) according to claim 9, wherein the mass analysis for the detection being based on produced (201) reagent ions(R(101)+A) adducted on sample analytes (A) in a chemical ionization method according to a claim 7 or 8.

11. The detection method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the ion source (103) producing (201) the reagent ions (R(l 01)+ / ") comprises a soft x-ray source being used in the reagent ion production.

12. The detection method (200) according to anyone of the previous claims 9 to 11 the detection method (200) comprises guiding (202) utilized reagent ions ((R( 101 )+ / "), such as urea ions) into the IMR with an electric field and against a flush flow (F).

13. The detection method (200) according to anyone of the previous claims 9 to 12, comprises leading and injecting (203) the IMR the reagent ions (R(l 01+ / "), such as Urea ions, to collide with in an adduct formation (204), with the sample molecule analytes (A) to produce ion clusters (A-R(101)+ / ‘ )) for an ion detection in mass analysis by a mass analyzer (MS).

14. The detection method (200) of claim 13, wherein the detection method (200) comprises detection (205) of the adduct ions by a detector being based on mass analyzer (MS) being implemented by an Ion Mobility Spectrometer, Mass Spectrometer or similar mass analysis device (MAD).

15. The detection method according to anyone of the claims 9 to 14, wherein the method is direct to detection of one or more substances in the group consisting of ammonia, amines, acidic compounds, basic compounds, volatile organic compounds, terpenoids, highly oxidized molecules, organo-phosphorous substance, tiols, aromatic-tiols, heterocylic- mercaptane based or other heterocyclic substances.

16. An ion detection system (100S), comprising an ionization device (100) according to anyone of the claims 1 to 6 and a mass analysis device (MS) comprising at least one of the following: Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS), Mass Spectrometer (MS) or similar mass analysis device (MAD).

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