METHOD FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC MATERIALS

摘要

A single-stage quadrupole mass analyzer is provided with a highly sensitive electron multiplier, a turbomolecular pump, and a mass correction lens placed between the quadrupole sensor unit and the turbomolecular pump. These components are arranged and selected to provide a substantial increase in sensitivity permitting the direct analysis of organic compounds in the gas phase in the ppb and high ppt concentration range. The placement of the mass correction lens and the area of its aperture has a pronounced effect on the detection limit, the optimum aperture area is a function of the mass of the molecules to be detected, and preferably an iris diaphram is used to permit manual or automatic adjustment of the aperture area to a predetermined optimum for each of the different substances to be detected. Preferably the electron multiplier voltage is also variably selected and reset during the scanning of each fragment ion to optimize the signalto-noise ratio of the electron multiplier. The mass analyzer is sufficiently compact and economical to provide on-site analysis and the continuous monitoring or control of industrial processes.