Ionization of organic substances on conveyor means in mass spectrometer

US4259572A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Curt Brunnee · Ritterhude, DE
• Jochen Franzen · Bremen, DE
• Stefan Meier · Neubiberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 16, 1979
• Grant date: Mar 31, 1981
• Expiry date: May 16, 1999

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2030/8417
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Organic samples from a liquid chromatograph are deposited on a conveyor belt which transports them into a vacuum chamber at the entry end of a mass spectrometer. The samples are ionized directly on the belt by particle bombardment or by means of a laser beam. Ionization is enhanced by applying an oxide layer to the belt, by neutralizing the image force, and by vaporizing alkali atoms on the belt to reduce the ionization potential.