Electrospray ionization interface to high pressure mass spectrometry and related methods

摘要

An electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometer analysis systems include an ESI device with at least one emitter configured to electrospray ions and a mass spectrometer in fluid communication with the at least one emitter of the ESI device. The mass spectrometer includes a mass analyzer held in a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber is configured to have a high (background/gas) pressure of about 50 mTorr or greater during operation. During operation, the ESI device is configured to either; (a) electrospray ions into a spatial region external to the vacuum chamber and at atmospheric pressure, the spatial extent being adjacent to an inlet device attached to the vacuum chamber, the inlet device intakes the electrosprayed ions external to the vacuum chamber with the mass analyzer and discharges the ions into the vacuum chamber with the mass analyzer; or (b) electrospray ions directly into the vacuum chamber with the mass analyzer.

主权项

1. An electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometer analysis system, comprising:
an ESI device with at least one emitter configured to electrospray ions; and a mass spectrometer in fluid communication with the at least one emitter of the ESI device comprising:
a mass analyzer held in a vacuum chamber, wherein the vacuum chamber is configured to have a pressure of between about 50 mTorr and about 2000 Torr during operation; anda detector in communication with the mass analyzer;an inlet device with an internal end in the vacuum chamber with the mass analyzer and with an external end outside the vacuum chamber in a spatial region in which a gas pressure corresponds to atmospheric pressure, wherein the external end of the inlet device is spaced apart from the at least one emitter; anda direct current (DC) power supply connected to the inlet device at a location that is external to the vacuum chamber, wherein, during operation; the ESI device is configured to electrospray ions into the spatial region; the inlet device intakes the electrosprayed ions from the spatial region and discharges the ions directly into the vacuum chamber; and the DC power supply applies a non-zero voltage to the inlet device.