Enhanced Spray Formation for Liquid Samples

摘要

Methods and systems for generating ions from a liquid sample for mass spectrometry are provided herein. In various aspects, the methods and systems can enhance the break-up of a jet of the liquid sample upon injection into an ionization chamber. In some aspects, methods and systems perturb the liquid sample prior to discharge to increase the internal energy of the sample so as to enhance the formation of liquid droplets when the liquid sample is injected into the ionization chamber.

主权项

1. An apparatus for generating ions for analysis by a mass spectrometer, comprising:
an ion source housing defining an ion source chamber, the ion source chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a sampling orifice of a mass spectrometer; a conduit having an inlet end for receiving a liquid sample and an outlet end for discharging the liquid sample into the ion source chamber such that the discharged liquid forms a sample plume, the sample plume comprising a plurality of liquid droplets; means for perturbing the liquid sample flowing within the conduit so as to enhance the formation of liquid droplets when the liquid sample is discharged from the outlet end into the ion source chamber; and means for ionizing one or more analytes contained within the liquid droplets.