The invention relates to an ionization chamber for connection to a mass spectrometer. The ionization chamber has a temperature-control block with a gas inlet and a gas channel which starts at the gas inlet and leads into a gas outlet. A temperature-control device is positioned along the gas channel and ensures that a gas flowing in the gas channel is brought to a specific temperature, i.e. it is heated or cooled, before it enters the ionization chamber. The temperature-control block has a formed part into which a structure of the gas channel is incorporated and which is fabricated by means of a sol-gel process, for example out of a glass or ceramic material.

An ion transfer system includes an ion source coupled to an ion inlet; an ion transfer tube assembly including a concentric ion transfer tube with a porous material that is permeable to a gas, the concentric ion transfer tube coupled to the ion inlet and the ion source, where a first gas that includes an ion stream flows through the concentric ion transfer tube; and a concentric gas tube, the concentric ion transfer tube disposed within the concentric gas tube, where a second gas flows between the concentric ion transfer tube and the concentric gas tube; an ion detection device coupled to a capillary tube that is coupled to the concentric ion transfer tube, where the capillary tube transports the ion stream to the ion detection device; and a pump coupled to at least one of the concentric ion transfer tube or the concentric gas tube.

The invention provides apparatus and methods for determining the isotope ratio of a sample. The apparatus comprises a dynamically heated chamber (1); a reactor (4), wherein an outlet of the dynamically heated chamber is coupled to a reactor inlet; an isotope ratio spectrometer (6), wherein an outlet of the reactor is coupled to a spectrometer inlet; such that a gas flow path is provided from the dynamically heated chamber to the isotope ratio spectrometer; wherein the apparatus includes at least one selective gas trap (3,5) in the gas flow path, the gas trap being configured to selectively and reversibly trap one or more gases present in the gas flow in use.

A GC fitting for an inner tube of a heated transfer line of a gas chromatography interface probe, the fitting comprising a first section comprising a substantially cylindrical projection for fluid connection to a GC source in use, and a second section having a larger radius than the first section in at least one direction, the second section being provided with at least one flat.

A method of evaluating an analysis device that is capable of detecting each of a plurality of compounds included in a sample includes introducing the sample including a first compound into the analysis device for measurement and detecting the first compound and at least one reaction product derived from the first compound, and acquiring information representing whether the analysis device is in a suitable state for an analysis based on an intensity of the detected first compound and an intensity of each of the detected at least one reaction product, and a relative response factor in regard to each of the first compound and the at least one reaction product.

Apparatus for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion source, a heater for heating a gas flow to the ion source, a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the heater, and a control system. The control system is arranged and adapted to determine a flow rate of the gas flow by monitoring the power supplied to the heater and the temperature of the heater.

Techniques disclosed herein can improve the extraction of chemicals prior to analysis by GC or GCMS. A liquid or solid sample can be placed in a sample container of a closed system under vacuum that further includes a sample extraction device. The assembly can be placed in a 3-zone heater that can separately control the temperature of the bottom of the sample container, the top of the sample container, and the sample extraction device. Vapor flux from the bottom of the sample container into the headspace of the sample container can deliver compounds of interest to the sample extraction device, whereas matrix compounds can re-condense in the headspace of the sample container to avoid delivery to the sample extraction device. Extraction can continue until substantial transfer of compounds of interest to the sorbent occurs, followed by thermal desorption of the extract into a GCMS for analysis.

A CMV sampling device includes a thermoelectric cooler, a vacuum pump, and one or more holders for one or more capillary microextractor of volatiles (CMV) tubes. The holder thermally contacts the thermoelectric cooler and the vacuum pump is fluidly connected to the CMV tube. The CMV device is useful for sampling of volatile organic compounds from air. The sampling can be carried out rapidly to achieve a sample within the CMV tube that may be placed into a thermal desorption unit (TDU) coupled to an inlet port for introduction of the volatiles into an analytical instrument, such as, a gas chromatograph (GC), an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), a liquid chromatograph (LC), and/or a mass spectrometer (MS) for analysis of one or more volatiles.

Ion modification An ion mobility spectrometer (100) comprising a sample inlet (108) comprising an aperture arranged to allow a sample of gaseous fluid to flow from an ambient pressure region to a low pressure region of the ion mobility spectrometer to be ionised; a controller (200) arranged to control gas pressure in the low pressure region to be lower than ambient pressure; and an ion modifier (126, 127, 202) configured to modify ions in the low pressure region, wherein the ions are obtained from the sample of gas.

A quadrupole mass spectrometer includes: a quadrupole mass filter with four rod electrodes arranged so as to surround a central axis; and a magnet that forms a magnetic field in at least a part of an inside of the quadrupole mass filter in a direction intersecting the central axis.