Examples are directed toward systems and methods relating to collecting and analyzing samples. For example, a system includes a cold trap that directly collects a sample. The cold trap operates to serve as a collection filter while the system draws in a flow across the cold trap. A thermal heater, coupled to the cold trap, flash heats the cold trap to produce a released sample from the cold trap at a release concentration. An analyzer entrains the released sample at the release concentration into a sampling flow of the analyzer for analysis.

Examples are directed toward systems and methods relating to collecting and analyzing samples. For example, a system includes a cold trap that directly collects a sample. The cold trap operates to serve as a collection filter while the system draws in a flow across the cold trap. A thermal heater, coupled to the cold trap, flash heats the cold trap to produce a released sample from the cold trap at a release concentration. An analyzer entrains the released sample at the release concentration into a sampling flow of the analyzer for analysis.

The invention relates to reducing harmonic signals in FT-ICR spectra. Since harmonic signals in quadrupolar 2ω-detection can be more abundant for the same ion motion in the ICR cell as compared to harmonic signals in classical dipolar 1ω-detection, they could hitherto not be reduced to satisfactory levels by any known method, such as gated deflection during ion introduction into, and correcting for an offset electric field axis in the ICR cell. The present disclosure foresees, in addition to other methods carried out for improving the measurement conditions as the case may be, performing the quadrupolar 2ω-detection at least twice, where the phase of the ion excitation radio frequency is turned by 180° in the second measurement. From the sum transient, a Fourier-transformed spectrum is derived. As a result, the broad band spectra of complex substance mixtures like crude oil become cleaner, and misinterpretations of false (harmonic) peaks are minimized.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

Provided are an ion source and a mass spectrometer that reduce a dead volume of the connecting part of a pipe to a capillary. An ion source has a capillary and a pipe. The capillary has a large-diameter part that forms a capillary upstream-side end face on an upstream side. The large-diameter part has a large-diameter part downstream side face on a downstream side. The pipe has a pipe downstream end face on the downstream side. A capillary retaining unit has a hole through which the capillary downstream-side end face is passable and a face on which the large-diameter part downstream side face is installable. The ion source includes a pipe retaining unit that retains the pipe. The capillary retaining unit and the pipe retaining unit are disposed such that the capillary upstream-side end face contacts the pipe downstream end face to connect the capillary to the pipe.

Provided are an ion source and a mass spectrometer that reduce a dead volume of the connecting part of a pipe to a capillary. An ion source has a capillary and a pipe. The capillary has a large-diameter part that forms a capillary upstream-side end face on an upstream side. The large-diameter part has a large-diameter part downstream side face on a downstream side. The pipe has a pipe downstream end face on the downstream side. A capillary retaining unit has a hole through which the capillary downstream-side end face is passable and a face on which the large-diameter part downstream side face is installable. The ion source includes a pipe retaining unit that retains the pipe. The capillary retaining unit and the pipe retaining unit are disposed such that the capillary upstream-side end face contacts the pipe downstream end face to connect the capillary to the pipe.

The present invention provides a method for analyzing a sample containing metal fine particles with an inductive coupling plasma mass spectrometer. The method enables analysis of the sample without the need of standard metal fine particles. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for analyzing metal fine particles in liquid by use of an inductive coupling plasma mass spectrometer. In the method, the analysis apparatus is provided with a standard solution introduction apparatus including a standard solution storage unit for storing a standard solution containing a specific element in a known concentration, a syringe pump for suctioning and discharging the standard solution, and a solution introduction unit having a standard solution nebulizer and a standard solution spray chamber that are supplied with the standard solution, the standard solution is directly supplied to the standard solution nebulizer at a flow rate of 3 μL/min or less.

The present invention provides a method for analyzing a sample containing metal fine particles with an inductive coupling plasma mass spectrometer. The method enables analysis of the sample without the need of standard metal fine particles. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for analyzing metal fine particles in liquid by use of an inductive coupling plasma mass spectrometer. In the method, the analysis apparatus is provided with a standard solution introduction apparatus including a standard solution storage unit for storing a standard solution containing a specific element in a known concentration, a syringe pump for suctioning and discharging the standard solution, and a solution introduction unit having a standard solution nebulizer and a standard solution spray chamber that are supplied with the standard solution, the standard solution is directly supplied to the standard solution nebulizer at a flow rate of 3 μL/min or less.

The invention provides a method for detecting one or more analytes, the method comprising: providing a substrate comprising a semiconductor with a porous surface, wherein the porous surface is coated with a fluorocarbon polymeric coating; contacting the porous surface with a fluid or object so that the one or more analytes are retained on the substrate when present in the fluid or on the object; and analysing the substrate by mass spectrometry to detect the one or more analytes if present on the substrate.