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.

In an ionization device for an ionization chamber (11) separated from an analysis chamber (12-14) by a partition wall having an ion introduction port (113), an ionization probe (111) sprays a liquid sample. A heated-gas supply mechanism (112), which includes a gas supply source and a heating section (1122) for heating a gas supplied from the gas supply source, expels the gas in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the liquid sample is sprayed from the ionization probe. A controller (32) controls an operation of the heated-gas supply mechanism so that the gas is continuously expelled from the heated-gas supply mechanism regardless of the presence or absence of an operation by a user while the liquid sample is sprayed from the ionization probe. The continuous expulsion of the gas from the heated-gas supply mechanism prevents this mechanism from being contaminated by the sprayed liquid.

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.

Molecular rotational resonance (MRR) spectroscopy can be used to characterize neutral, gas-phase molecules with very fine spectral resolution. Typically, the analyte molecules are placed in solution, which is heated initially to evaporate the solvent, then heated more to volatilize the analyte. Unfortunately, this approach does not always work well for analytes with low volatilities or susceptibility to thermal degradation. These analytes can be volatilized instead using laser-induced acoustic desorption (LIAD), flash vaporization, or nebulization. In LIAD, the analyte is dried onto a metal foil, which is illuminated by a laser. The laser beam generates an acoustic wave in the metal foil that shakes off the analyte. In flash vaporization, a small amount of liquid analyte drips onto a very hot surface, where it vaporizes too quickly to degrade. And in nebulization, a nebulizer pumps a fine spray of analyte into a heated transfer tube, where the solvent evaporates.

Systems and methods for delivering a sample to a mass spectrometer are provided. In one aspect, the systems and methods can provide efficient cooling of an ion source probe to prevent overheating and the resulting degradation in ion sampling. In some aspects, such cooling can result in improved consistency and/or efficiency of ion formation. Moreover, ion source cooling in accordance with various aspects of the present teachings can allow for the use of higher temperatures in the ionization chamber (thereby improving desolvation) and/or can enable the use of lower flow rate sample sources than with conventional techniques.

Systems and methods for delivering a sample to a mass spectrometer are provided. In one aspect, the systems and methods can provide efficient cooling of an ion source probe to prevent overheating and the resulting degradation in ion sampling. In some aspects, such cooling can result in improved consistency and/or efficiency of ion formation. Moreover, ion source cooling in accordance with various aspects of the present teachings can allow for the use of higher temperatures in the ionization chamber (thereby improving desolvation) and/or can enable the use of lower flow rate sample sources than with conventional techniques.

In an ionization device for an ionization chamber (11) separated from an analysis chamber (12-14) by a partition wall having an ion introduction port (113), an ionization probe (111) sprays a liquid sample. A heated-gas supply mechanism (112), which includes a gas supply source and a heating section (1122) for heating a gas supplied from the gas supply source, expels the gas in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the liquid sample is sprayed from the ionization probe. A controller (32) controls an operation of the heated-gas supply mechanism so that the gas is continuously expelled from the heated-gas supply mechanism regardless of the presence or absence of an operation by a user while the liquid sample is sprayed from the ionization probe. The continuous expulsion of the gas from the heated-gas supply mechanism prevents this mechanism from being contaminated by the sprayed liquid.