METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF IONS

摘要

A method for controlling the supply of ions from a liquid chromatograph through an ion source into a mass spectrometer. The ion source is foreseen to be either an electrospray ionization sources or an impaction spraying ion sources. The ion source can be operated in two modes: a mode in which ions are supplied into the mass spectrometer and a mode in which ions are prevented to be supplied into the mass spectrometer. In this latter mode, the supply of ions into the mass spectrometer is prevented by reducing the potential applied to the ionization source, reducing the nebulizer gas flow and/or increasing the cone gas flow.