Focused acoustic radiation, referred to as tonebursts, are applied to a volume of liquid to generate a set of droplets. In one embodiment, a first toneburst is applied to temporarily raise a mound or protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. After the mound has reached a certain state, at least two additional toneburst can be applied to the protuberance to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets. In one embodiment, the state of the mound can be maintained by a sustained acoustic signal, during which time multiple additional tonebursts can be applied to sequentially eject multiple bursts of multiple droplets from the mound.

A sample introduction system provides mixing of a sample and a diluent within the container via gas injection. In one or more implementations, the sample introduction system causes a probe of an autosampler to be inserted into a container containing a sample and a diluent so that an end of the probe is submerged beneath a surface of the diluent and the sample. Gas is then injected through the probe to mix the sample and the diluent within the container. An aliquot of the mixed sample and diluent is then withdrawn through the probe.

An integrated system for liquid separation and electrospray ionization includes an emitter-enabled capillary column including an emitter portion and a column portion; and a retractable protective sleeve for covering and/or supporting the emitter portion along at least a portion of its axis. The protective sleeve is mounted around the emitter-enabled capillary column. The retractable protective sleeve is moveable to an extended position wherein a tip of the emitter portion is covered by the protective sleeve. A resilient member is provided to bias the protective sleeve towards the extended position. The protective sleeve is enclosed and moveable within an outer electrically conductive sheath adapted for insertion within a holder having a high-voltage contact point. The sheath is adapted to contact the high-voltage contact point and provide an electrical connection to enable the emitter-enabled capillary column to receive a high voltage. The sheath has a recess to receive the high-voltage contact point.

A system and method for providing sample into an electrospray device such as a mass spectrometer by providing a sample at a near constant flow through a sample delivery tube with a specified dimensionality through an emitter. These dimensions and feed rates result in higher pressures than would exist in the prior art with some of these pressures being greater than 1000 psi. This system enables increased sample throughput of up to 1200 samples per day.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

A spray area in which a large number of droplets of a liquid sample sprayed from a spray nozzle is separated from the tip of a needle electrode for corona discharge by a sufficiently large distance, with a grid electrode facing the needle electrode placed in between. Ring electrodes for creating an electric field which drives primary ions that should react with the sample and generate sample-derived ions are provided within an ion chamber between the grid electrode and the spray area. Primary ions generated by corona discharge within the space between the needle electrode and the grid electrode pass through the opening of the grid electrode, reach the spray area under the effect of the electric field, and ionize sample components. Since the droplets are prevented from adhering to the needle electrode, the corona discharge is maintained in a stable state.

A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

An ion source is disclosed that alternates between ionizing analytes in a sample by electrospray ionization and impact ionization.

The present disclosure describes devices and methods capable of generating multi-phase emulsions, including double emulsion droplets in a gas phase. The present disclosure also describes interfaces for coupling a multi-phase emulsion droplet source to an analytical instrument such as a mass spectrometer. The present disclosure further describes methods, systems, and apparatuses for using the devices and interfaces described to perform analysis, including mass spectrometry. The present disclosure also describes methods, systems, and apparatuses for generating and using multi-phase emulsions to perform analysis.

Disclosed herein are integrated preparation and detection devices for studying biomass-burning aerosols, where the devices include a micro-fluidized bed reactor (MFBR), a transmission line, and an on-line detection unit that are connected in sequence. The MFBR may include a pyrolysis reactor and a pyrolysis furnace; the pyrolysis reactor may include a thermocouple, an introduction tube, and quartz sands; the on-line detection unit may be an on-line photoionization mass spectrometer; and the photoionization mass spectrometer may include a laser desorption system, a laser ionizer and a light energy ionizer. Devices of the present disclosure are beneficial to retain the original state of aerosol particles, and the fixed MFBR can realize rapid pyrolysis of a biomass due to its high and stable heat conduction efficiency, which is beneficial to studying the formation mechanism of aerosol particles.