A method for cleaning a first electrospray emitter of a mass spectrometer comprises: changing an operating mode of the first electrospray emitter from a stable jet mode of operation to a dripping or pulsating mode of operation by lowering a magnitude of a voltage applied between a counter electrode and the first electrospray emitter, |V.sub.1|; moving the first electrospray emitter from a first emitter position from which electrospray ions are delivered to a mass spectrometer inlet to a second emitter position and, simultaneously, moving a second electrospray emitter from a third emitter position to a fourth emitter position; causing a cleaning solvent to flow through the first electrospray emitter at least until a droplet of the cleaning solvent forms on an exterior surface of the first electrospray emitter while operating the electrospray emitter in the dripping mode of operation; and causing the droplet to dislodge from the emitter exterior.

An impact ionisation spray or electrospray ionisation ion source comprising a nebuliser (30) having a first conduit (11) for providing a liquid sample and a second conduit (10) for providing a nebulisation gas in order to nebulise the liquid sample is disclosed. The first conduit (11) and second conduit (10) are of unitary construction with each other and may be made from glass. The ion source can provide a consistent and/or predictable spray profile for the nebulised sample.

Systems and methods disclosed provide a laser-assisted micro-mass spectrometer, which can include a pulsed inlet, a multi-wavelength laser system, and a first mass spectrometer module including a plurality of first ionization sources. In an embodiment, the pulsed inlet can be configured to receive a neutral sample of analyte material and provide it to said first mass spectrometer module.

A mass spectrometer may have an ion source region including an ion generator configured to generate ions from a sample, an ion detector configured to detect ions and produce corresponding ion detection signals, an electric field-free drift region disposed between the ion source region and the ion detector through which the generated ions drift axially toward the ion detector, a plurality of spaced-apart charge detection cylinders disposed in the drift region and through which the ions drifting axially through the drift region pass, and a plurality of charge amplifiers each coupled to a different one of the plurality of charge detection cylinders and each configured to produce a charge detection signal corresponding to a magnitude of charge of one or more of the generated ions passing through a respective one of the plurality of charge detection cylinders.

An ion source is provided comprising a nebuliser or electrospray probe (1) for nebulising a sample and an impact surface or target electrode (5). The impact surface or target electrode (5) comprises a tarnishable or oxidisable metal or an alloy comprising a tarnishable or oxidisable metal. Also provided is an ion source comprising a nebuliser or electrospray probe with a central wire comprising a tarnishable or oxidisable metal or an alloy comprising a tarnishable or oxidisable metal or an alloy comprising a tarnishable or oxidisable metal. Adducts with relatively heavy metals result in simplified multiply-charged mass spectra that are easier to interpret.

An ion source is provided comprising a nebuliser or electrospray probe (1) for nebulising a sample and an impact surface or target electrode (5). The impact surface or target electrode (5) comprises a tarnishable or oxidisable metal or an alloy comprising a tarnishable or oxidisable metal. Also provided is an ion source comprising a nebuliser or electrospray probe with a central wire comprising a tarnishable or oxidisable metal or an alloy comprising a tarnishable or oxidisable metal or an alloy comprising a tarnishable or oxidisable metal. Adducts with relatively heavy metals result in simplified multiply-charged mass spectra that are easier to interpret.

An atmospheric pressure ionisation source comprising: an ionisation chamber, comprising an aperture for receiving at least the distal end of a capillary into the ionisation chamber in use, the aperture having a capillary axis; a desolvation heater having a nozzle, for directing a stream of heated gas onto the distal end of the capillary in use, the nozzle having a nozzle axis; a corona discharge device including a corona pin having a corona axis, the corona pin for ionizing a sample in the ionisation chamber in use; and an inlet cone of a mass spectrometer arranged in the ionisation chamber, the inlet cone defining a cone entrance having a cone axis, wherein the cone axis is substantially coaxial with the corona axis and the capillary axis is substantially perpendicular to and intersects with the nozzle axis.

A mass spectrometer provided with an ionization chamber (10) in which ionization is performed on a sample by laser ionization, includes an opening part (12) that is provided on a side wall of the ionization chamber (10), and includes a door (13); a ventilation port (14) provided in a wall of the ionization chamber (10), which is opposite to the opening port (12); and a gas supplier (64), (67) for supplying high-pressure cleaning gas to the ionization chamber (10) through the ventilation port (14). In this configuration, the high-pressure cleaning gas flows into the ionization chamber (10) from the gas supplier (64), (67) while the door (13) is opened, thereby blowing up particles including fragments of bacterial cells, which are piled up on a floor of the ionization chamber (10), and/or sweeping particles floating near the floor, so as to discharge the particles to the outside.

An analysis method includes: performing liquid chromatography using a mobile phase including an adsorption prevention agent for preventing adsorption of a sample including a compound having a phosphate group to metal; and performing mass spectrometry on an eluate of the liquid chromatography. The adsorption prevention agent includes an oxalic acid or a salt of the oxalic acid.

The disclosed solution comprises an injection subassembly that includes a nicked alignment tube, a spray needle, and a conducting liquid tube. The nicked alignment tube has a nick near one end. The spray needle is fused within the nicked end of the nicked alignment tube and the fused spray needle and nicked alignment tube are inserted into the conducting liquid tube, where the nicked alignment tube aligns the spray needle coaxially within the conducting liquid tube. The nick and the entry end of the spray needle are positioned within the conducting liquid tube and the exit end of the spray needle extends out of the conducting liquid tube. The nick allows a conducting liquid to flow from the conducting liquid tube to within the nicked alignment tube and the spray needle. Also disclosed are a unitary optical-ESI system equipped with the injection subassembly and a method for using the same.