TECHNIQUES FOR ANALYZING MASS SPECTRA FROM THERMAL DESORPTION RESPONSE

摘要

Techniques are described for sample analysis. Thermal desorption of components of the sample occurs at atmospheric pressure at a plurality of times by applying one of a plurality of temperatures included in a temperature gradient at each of the times to a surface of the sample. Desorption of each component occurs at a different temperature thereby allowing differentiation of the components based on one of the times corresponding to the temperature at which desorption occurs for the component. Ions are generated from the thermally desorbed components. Mass spectra generated from the ions are analyzed to determine mass spectral features about the components. Analyzing includes associating one of the ions with a component if the one ion has an ion intensity apex or peak that is detected in the mass spectra and occurs at a time corresponding to a one of the temperatures at which thermal desorption occurs for the component.