Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometer Drying Gas Port Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional atmospheric pressure ion sources have suboptimal configurations for drying-gas supply units, which hinder the improvement of ion detection sensitivity in mass spectrometry.
Innovation Solution
The atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer features a drying-gas supplying port positioned opposite to the ion-drawing port, with the option of multiple ports arranged around it, allowing independent regulation of drying gas flow rates to optimize ion detection sensitivity based on analysis conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If drying gas is supplied from the circumference of the ion-drawing port to promote solvent vaporization, then ion generation efficiency is improved, but ions may be pushed back and ion transport efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drying gas supply is divided into multiple independent drying-gas supplying ports arranged around the ion-drawing port, allowing separate control of drying gas flow from different directions. This segmentation enables optimization of gas flow to promote solvent vaporization while preventing ion push-back.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions around the ion-drawing port are supplied with drying gas at different flow rates through independently controllable drying-gas supplying ports. This local quality adjustment ensures effective solvent vaporization in certain regions while maintaining favorable conditions for ion transport in other regions.
2Productivity
If multiple drying-gas supplying ports are provided around the ion-drawing port, then solvent vaporization is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple drying-gas supplying ports share a common drying gas supply line and can be controlled by a unified flow rate regulation system. This multi-functionality approach allows enhanced solvent vaporization through multiple ports while avoiding the complexity of completely independent control systems for each port.
3Productivity
If drying gas flow rate is increased to maximize ion detection efficiency, then ion generation is improved, but ion transport may be hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The flow rates of drying gas from different drying-gas supplying ports can be dynamically adjusted and independently regulated. This dynamic control allows optimization of the balance between solvent vaporization promotion and ion transport facilitation, maximizing ion detection efficiency without hindering ion transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows independent regulation of drying gas flow rates from different ports, enabling parameter optimization to achieve the best balance between ion generation and ion transport under various analysis conditions.
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
This configuration enhances ion transport efficiency and detection sensitivity, particularly in ESI and nano-ESI sources, by ensuring ions are drawn into the ion-drawing port without being pushed back, thereby improving overall ion detection sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
The resultant droplets collide with the ambient air, to be divided into finer particles. Concurrently, the solvent or mobile phase in the droplets vaporizes.
Implementation Method 2
The ions drawn into the ion-drawing port pass through a desolvation pipe, to be transported to subsequent stages under vacuum atmosphere
Implementation Method 3
In the ESI, a high voltage of a few to several kV is previously applied to the tip of a thin nozzle through which a liquid sample is to be introduced. The high voltage creates an electric field, which causes charge separation in the liquid sample.
Implementation Method 4
In the APCI, a needle electrode is placed in front of the tip of a thin nozzle through which a liquid sample is introduced. The sample components released from the droplets of the liquid sample nebulized by the heated nozzle are made to chemically react with carrier-gas ions (buffer ions) generated by corona discharge from the needle electrode, whereby the sample components are ionized.
Data Source
AI summary
In an atmospheric pressure ionization source using an ESI or the like having a desolvation pipe with one end opening serving as an ion-drawing port, a drying-gas supplying port for supplying a drying gas against the ion-drawing direction is provided below the ion-drawing port, i.e. at a position opposite to the side where a nozzle for spraying a liquid sample into an atmospheric pressure atmosphere is located, as viewed from the ion-drawing port. When the drying gas is supplied from the drying-gas supplying port, the gas pressure becomes higher in a region above the ion-drawing port becomes higher than in a region below the same port and produces a downward air stream. This stream helps ions in the spray flow from the nozzle to easily come close to the ion-drawing port and be efficiently drawn into the desolvation pipe.