Smiths Detection Montreal, Inc.

Dh Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.

Smiths Detection Inc.

Smith Detection, Inc.

Jan Hendrikse

Vladimir Romanov

Vadym Berkout

John J Corr

Udo H Verkerk

Alan Hopkinson

Udo Verkerk

A method for providing in situ chemical transformation and ionization of a portion (e.g., inorganic oxidizer) of a sample via an analyte detection system is disclosed herein. The method includes introducing a gas into an ionization some of the analyte detection system via an inlet. The method further includes generating ions within the ionization source and directing the gas and generated ions through and out of the ionization source and to the sample. The sample is located proximal to the ionization source in an ambient environment. The ions chemically react with the sample and desorb and ionize an analytic from the sample, the analyte being generated from the inorganic oxidizer, the desorbed analyte having a lower melting point and/or better desorption kinetics than the inorganic oxidizer. The method further includes receiving the desorbed analyte via an analyzer of the analyte detection system.

In situ chemical transformation and ionization of inorganic perchlorates on surfaces

A method for providing in situ chemical transformation and ionization of a portion (e.g., inorganic oxidizer) of a sample via an analyte detection system is disclosed herein. The method includes introducing a gas into an ionization source of the analyte detection system via an inlet. The method further includes generating ions within the ionization source and directing the gas and generated ions through and out of the ionization source and to the sample. The sample is located proximal to the ionization source in an ambient environment. The ions chemically react with the sample and desorb and ionize an analyte from the sample, the analyte being generated from the inorganic oxidizer, the desorbed analyte having a lower melting point and/or better desorption kinetics than the inorganic oxidizer. The method further includes receiving the desorbed analyte via an analyzer of the analyte detection system.

The present disclosure relates to an ion exchange process, as well as a process and system for detecting nitrates, which employ a class of dopants comprising at least two functional groups capable of simultaneous convergent hydrogen bonding with a nitrate ion. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides an ion exchange process for forming a negatively charged nitrate-dopant ion analyte for analysis by a spectrometry analysis instrument, comprising: providing a gas comprising a dopant in both neutral and ionized forms; contacting a nitrate-containing sample with the gas comprising the dopant and thereby desorbing a nitrate ion from the sample to form a negatively charged nitrate-dopant ion analyte and replacing the desorbed nitrate ion with a negatively charged ionized dopant molecule; wherein the dopant is an organic compound comprising two or more carbon atoms and two or more functional groups capable of simultaneous convergent hydrogen bonding with a nitrate ion; or the dopant is an organic compound comprising at least two carbon atoms and only a single functional group capable of hydrogen bonding with a nitrate ion, which group is a &#x2014;COOH functional group, and where the carbon atom of the &#x2014;COOH functional group is bonded directly to another carbonyl group; and with the proviso that the dopant is not lactic acid, a lactic acid salt or a compound that forms lactate ions upon ionization.

Dopants for the detection of nitrates

A sample inlet device and methods for use of the sample inlet device are described that include an ion funnel having a plurality of electrodes with apertures arranged about an axis extending from an inlet of the ion funnel to an outlet of the ion funnel, the ion funnel including a plurality of spacer elements disposed coaxially with the plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality of spacer elements being positioned between one or two adjacent electrodes, each of the plurality of spacer elements having an aperture with a diameter that is greater than a diameter of each adjacent electrode. The ion funnel is configured to pass an ion sample through the apertures of the electrodes and the spacer elements to additional portions of a detection system, such as to a mass analyzer system and detector.

Ion funnel for efficient transmission of low mass-to-charge ratio ions with reduced gas flow at the exit

A concentric APCI surface ionization probe, supersonic sampling tube, and method for use of the concentric APCI surface ionization probe and supersonic sampling tube are described. In an embodiment, the concentric APCI surface ionization probe includes an outer tube, an inner capillary, and a voltage source coupled to the outer tube and the inner capillary. The inner capillary is housed within and concentric with the outer tube such that ionized gas (e.g., air) travels out of the outer tube, reacts with a sample, and the resulting analyte ions are sucked into the inner capillary. A supersonic sampling tube can include a tube coupled to a mass spectrometer and/or concentric APCI surface ionization probe, where the tube includes at least one de Laval nozzle.

Concentric APCI surface ionization ion source, ion guide, and method of use

A sample introduction system configured for introducing analytes of a solid phase micro extraction (SPME) sample into an analytical instrument system (e.g., mass spectrometer) is described. The sample introduction system includes a pressure vessel configured with an inlet port via which a probe portion (e.g., SPME fiber) of a SPME assembly is received into a sealed volume of the pressure vessel. The probe portion of the SPME assembly is coated with an extracting phase material, the analytes being absorbed into and/or adsorbed onto the extracting phase material. The pressure vessel is configured for providing an environment in which desorption of the analytes from the extracting phase material occurs at a gaseous pressure which is substantially less than atmospheric pressure (e.g., less than 100 mTorr). The desorbed analytes are then directed to the vacuum chamber of the analytical instrument system via an outlet port of the pressure vessel.

Solid phase micro extraction (SPME) vacuum inlet

A mass spectrometry system for screening a sample for one or more analytes includes a pre-mass spectrometry screening apparatus configured to pre-screen an ionized sample to generate output correlated to the composition of the sample, and a mass spectrometer. A sample gate is opened to allow flow of at least a portion of the ionized sample to the mass spectrometer and closed to prevent flow of the ionized sample to the mass spectrometer. A processing system compares results of the pre-mass spectrometry screening to an analyte database, wherein correlation of the results to an analyte within the analyte database comprises a preliminary positive identification. When the processing system determines that a preliminary positive identification is made, it causes the gate to open for a period of time. However, when the processing system determines that a preliminary positive identification is not made, it causes the gate to remain closed.

Systems, devices, and methods for sample analysis using mass spectrometry

An apparatus and method is disclosed for reducing contamination in a mass spectrometer instrument system. The system includes an ion source at a first pressure for generating ions by laser desorption/ionization and an inlet aperture to a vacuum chamber at a second, lower pressure than the first pressure of the ion source. A sample plate within the ion source supports a sample deposited thereon and a laser can be configured to generate laser pulses striking at least a portion of the sample at an angle of incidence from about 0 to about 80 degrees to the center line of a first ion optical axis of a mass analyzer, producing a plume. A combination of the angle of incidence of the laser pulses and the distance between the sample plate and the inlet region aperture can reduce neutral contaminants in the plume from being drawn into the inlet aperture.

Growing community of inventors

Whitby, Canada

Jan Hendrikse