A nebulizer for a charged aerosol detection (CAD) system is disclosed. The nebulizer is provided with a spray emitter for generating a spray of droplets within a central region of a spray chamber. The central region is separated from an upper region by a horizontally projecting rib, which defines a passageway between the central and upper regions. The major direction of droplet travel within the upper region is substantially reversed with respect to the major direction of droplet travel within the central region. Larger droplets are unable to negotiate the turn from the central to upper regions and impinge on a rear surface of the spray chamber. Removal of larger droplets has the advantageous effect of enabling the detector to sense a smaller range of particle sizes, which establishes a relatively steady electrical current at the detector.

The invention relates to a method and the device which is required for its performing for the determination of the isotope ratio of carbon and/or nitrogen in an aqueous mobile phase which contains a sample. The method comprises the following steps: introduction of the aqueous mobile phase into a reactor (i), heating of the aqueous mobile phase with addition of oxygen in the reactor to a temperature of higher than 600° C. for the formation of a water containing sample gas (ii), reduction of the nitrogen oxides being present in the sample gas as well as removal of the contained oxygen (iii), removal of water from the sample gas by chemical drying and/or membrane gas drying (iv) and introduction of the dried sample gas into an isotope mass spectrometer (v). It is essential for the present invention that the introduction in step (i) is realized by introducing the aqueous mobile phase in a capillary tube which leads into the reactor with a gas mixture of oxygen and at least one inert gas, wherein the mass flow of oxygen and inert gas is regulated or controlled by at least one mass flow controller which is upstream with respect to the introduction and that after step (iv) removed water is actively pumped off.

A nebulizer for a charged aerosol detection (CAD) system is disclosed. The nebulizer is provided with a spray emitter for generating a spray of droplets within a central region of a spray chamber. The central region is separated from an upper region by a horizontally projecting rib, which defines a passageway between the central and upper regions. The major direction of droplet travel within the upper region is substantially reversed with respect to the major direction of droplet travel within the central region. Larger droplets are unable to negotiate the turn from the central to upper regions and impinge on a rear surface of the spray chamber. Removal of larger droplets has the advantageous effect of enabling the detector to sense a smaller range of particle sizes, which establishes a relatively steady electrical current at the detector.

A chemical analysis machine comprising a liquid phase chromatograph comprising, in turn, a chromatography nano-column with an inner diameter that is smaller than or equal to 100 μm, a mass spectrometer with an electronic ionization source, and a joining assembly interposed between the liquid phase chromatograph and the mass spectrometer. The joining assembly comprises a microcapillary tube having an inner diameter smaller than or equal to 50 μm and having a first end, which is directly connected to an outlet end of the nano-column so as to receive the liquid phase, and a second end, which is housed inside a vaporization microcannula where an inert gas flows. The vaporization microcannula is partially engaged by the microcapillary tube and has an end facing the inside of an ionization chamber of the mass spectrometer. The vaporization microcannula is subdivided into a first part, which is subjected to the action of a heating device, and a second part, which is kept at room temperature and has a length that is greater than or equal to 2 cm. The microcapillary tube occupies the inside of the entire second part of the vaporization microcannula and has an end portion that is arranged inside the first part and has a length that is less than or equal to 5 mm.

A chemical analysis machine comprising a liquid phase chromatograph comprising, in turn, a chromatography nano-column with an inner diameter that is smaller than or equal to 100 m, a mass spectrometer with an electronic ionization source, and a joining assembly interposed between the liquid phase chromatograph and the mass spectrometer. The joining assembly comprises a microcapillary tube having an inner diameter smaller than or equal to 50 m and having a first end, which is directly connected to an outlet end of the nano-column so as to receive the liquid phase, and a second end, which is housed inside a vaporization microcannula where an inert gas flows. The vaporization microcannula is partially engaged by the microcapillary tube and has an end facing the inside of an ionization chamber of the mass spectrometer. The vaporization microcannula is subdivided into a first part, which is subjected to the action of a heating device, and a second part, which is kept at room temperature and has a length that is greater than or equal to 2 cm. The microcapillary tube occupies the inside of the entire second part of the vaporization microcannula and has an end portion that is arranged inside the first part and has a length that is less than or equal to 5 mm.

A nebulizer includes a gas transport conduit having a gas inlet for receiving a nebulizer gas and an outlet, the gas transport conduit defining a longitudinal axis along flow direction of the nebulizer gas; and an analyte supply conduit extending into the gas transport conduit along the longitudinal axis, the analyte supply conduit having at least one side aperture configured to emit analyte from the analyte supply conduit into the gas transport conduit in a direction off-axis from the longitudinal axis of the gas transport conduit.

A nebulizer for a charged aerosol detection (CAD) system is disclosed. The nebulizer is provided with a spray emitter for generating a spray of droplets within a central region of a spray chamber. The central region is separated from an upper region by a horizontally projecting rib, which defines a passageway between the central and upper regions. The major direction of droplet travel within the upper region is substantially reversed with respect to the major direction of droplet travel within the central region. Larger droplets are unable to negotiate the turn from the central to upper regions and impinge on a rear surface of the spray chamber. Removal of larger droplets has the advantageous effect of enabling the detector to sense a smaller range of particle sizes, which establishes a relatively steady electrical current at the detector.

A gas-blowing liquid sample infusing device includes a sample introducing tube 17 made from a liquid-sample inner tube 40 and a nebulizing-gas outer tube 41 for nebulizing and supplying a liquid sample, and an exhaust sealing tube 18 provided on the circumference of the sample introducing tube 17, and a cushion member 43 that is mounted on the opening of a sample container 19 (the body of an infusion container 21), that allows the sample introducing tube 17 to pass through and has a contact surface for contacting the lower end of the exhaust sealing tube 18, and an engaging member (lid) 20 that includes a cushion admitting concave part 42 in which an engaging part 44 that is mounted on the opening of the sample container 19 and prevents the upward movement of the cushion member 43 is provided on the lateral surface of the inner circumference.