Ion Molecule Reactor Layout for Low-Pressure Analyte Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass spectrometry techniques face challenges in achieving high sensitivity and sample throughput for detecting analytes, particularly in complex mixtures such as cork stoppers, due to limited analyte ion yields and sensitivity, especially when dealing with ultra-low concentrations of contaminants like TCA in the wine industry.
Innovation Solution
A sampler and ion molecule reactor design that includes an analyte inlet aligned with the reaction volume's transit path, combined with an ion guide to control reagent ion distribution and enhance interaction times, allowing for efficient chemical ionization at lower pressures, reducing memory effects and increasing ion yields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high pressure buffer gas is used to establish laminar flow for guiding reagent ions and analytes, then ion guidance and reaction efficiency are improved, but gas purity requirements increase and memory effects worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the buffer gas function entirely from the system by operating at low pressure without buffer gas. The ion molecule reactor chamber operates at low pressure where reagent ions and analytes can guide themselves through the reaction volume without requiring external buffer gas support, thereby eliminating the source of memory effects while maintaining ion guidance efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from high (>100 mbar) to low, fundamentally altering the operating conditions of the ion molecule reactor. This parameter change allows the system to function without buffer gas, eliminating memory effects while maintaining effective ion guidance through the modified pressure regime.
2Reliability
If high pressure is maintained in the ion molecule reactor to establish laminar flow, then ion guidance is improved, but recovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from high to low, which fundamentally alters the chamber behavior. At low pressure, the chamber evacuates much faster between measurements, reducing recovery time from minutes to seconds, while ion guidance is maintained through the modified pressure regime without requiring buffer gas.
3Measurement precision
If complex cleaning measures are implemented to avoid formation of undesired ionic species, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the buffer gas component entirely from the system, which eliminates the primary source of impurities and undesired ionic species formation. This extraction simplifies the system by removing the need for complex cleaning measures while maintaining measurement precision through the low-pressure operating regime.
4Reliability
If buffer gas is used to guide sample gas and reagent ions, then ion transfer efficiency is improved, but sensitivity to impurities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the buffer gas from the system and replaces it with a low-pressure environment. In this regime, reagent ions and analytes self-guide through the reaction volume without buffer gas support, maintaining ion transfer efficiency while eliminating impurity interference that would otherwise be present in the buffer gas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves a significant increase in sensitivity, enabling detection of analytes at concentrations as low as 0.001 ppt, improves sample throughput, and reduces recovery times by minimizing ion losses and memory effects, making it suitable for rapid screening of complex samples.
Implementation Method 1
an ion guide comprising an electrode arrangement which is configured for producing an alternating electrical, magnetic and/or electromagnetic field, that allows for guiding the reagent ions and/or the analyte ions
Implementation Method 2
chemical ionization is particularly advantageous because this technique is selective and therefore can reach very low limits of detection
Implementation Method 3
In chemical ionisation, ionized analytes are produced through collisions of the analytes with reagent or primary ions
Data Source
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AI summary
An ion molecule reactor for generating analyte ions from analytes comprises: a) a reaction volume in which reagent ions can interact with the analytes in order to form analyte ions; b) at least one analyte inlet for introducing the analytes along an inlet path into the reaction volume whereby, preferably, the inlet path runs essentially along at least a first section of the predefined transit path in the reaction volume; c) at least one reagent ion source and/or at least one reagent ion inlet for providing reagent ions into the reaction volume; d) optionally, at least one ion guide comprising an electrode arrangement which is configured for producing an alternating electrical, magnetic and/or electromagnetic field, that allows for guiding the reagent ions and/or the analyte ions at least along a section of the predefined transit path, preferably along the whole transit path, through the reaction volume. There is also provided a sampler comprising one or more chambers, wherein each chamber is configured for receiving an individual sample and comprises an inlet and an outlet, such that a gaseous fluid flow can pass through each of the chambers.