The invention relates to a method for mass analysing a sample by ionising the sample to first sample ions and to second sample ions and by obtaining mass spectra from the first sample ions and the second sample ions with a mass analyser (5). Thereby, repeatedly, a first assay is obtained from the sample and transferred past any chromatography column to a first ion source (2) and ionised by the first ion source (2) to the first sample ions, wherein the first sample ions obtained from the respective first assay are transferred to the mass analyser (5), wherein at least one first mass spectrum is obtained with the mass analyser (5) from the first sample ions obtained from the respective first assay and ionised by and transferred from the first ion source (2). Furthermore, at least once, a second assay is obtained from the sample within a time window being associated with the respective second assay and having a window width, wherein the respective second assay is transferred for chromatographic separation via a chromatography column (3) to at least one second ion source (4.1, 4.2) in that after being chromatographically separated, the respective second assay eluting from the chromatography column (3) is transferred to the at least one second ion source (4.1, 4.2) and ionised by the at least one second ion source (4.1, 4.2) to the second sample ions, wherein the second sample ions obtained from the respective second assay are transferred to the mass analyser (5), wherein at least one second mass spectrum is obtained with the mass analyser (5) from the second sample ions obtained from the respective second assay which has been ionised by and transferred from the at least one second ion source (4.1, 4.2). Thereby, each one of the at least one second mass spectrum is assigned to one or more of the at least one first mass spectrum from the first sample ions obtained from one of the first assays which has been obtained from the sample within the time window associated with the respective second assay which has been chromatographically separated and ionised by the at least one second ion source (4.1, 4.2) to the second sample ions from which the respective one of the at least one second mass spectrum has been obtained. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus (1) for mass analysing a sample with the method according to the invention.

According to some embodiments, systems and methods for rapid evaporation of liquid phase samples are provided. The method includes directing liquid samples to a thermal evaporation ionizing device, thermally evaporating the liquid samples to create gaseous molecular ions, and directing the gaseous molecular ions to an ion analyzer to analyze and provide information regarding the chemical composition of the liquid samples.

A device that produces charged droplets whose composition is optimized for the creation of ions by electro spray composed of: a transport device that is operative to transfer sample components from a liquid sample to a processing chamber, a flowing stream of liquid through the processing chamber into which the samples are deposited, a controller mechanism operative to control the amount of sample transferred, a transport tube through which the flowing liquid containing the sample is directed to an electro spray emitter with a high electric field at the exit, a flow of expanding gas surrounding the electro spray emitter creating a pressure drop at the exit, and, a mass spectrometer for measuring the number of ions produced from the charged droplets emanating from the emitter; wherein the dilution of the sample in the processing chamber and transport fluid is from 100 to 10,000-fold.

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.

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.

The present disclosure discloses an in situ UPb dating method for calcite, including: cutting a calcite sample to prepare an epoxy resin sample target; placing the sample in a laser ablation sample chamber, and adjusting a position of the sample in an optical axis direction; conducting line scanning ablation on the sample target, and measuring ion signal intensity data of .sup.43Ca, .sup.88Sr, .sup.139La, and .sup.238U; conducting two-dimensional (2D) element imaging to obtain a 2D element content distribution map; according to the 2D element content distribution map, determining a high-U analysis target area, conducting point ablation on the high-U target area, and measuring ion signal intensity data of .sup.206Pb, .sup.207Pb, and .sup.238U; and after the element signal data is obtained, calculating .sup.207Pb/.sup.206Pb and .sup.238U/.sup.206Pb fractionation coefficients, correcting ratios of an unknown sample, constructing a Tera-Wasserbug diagram, and calculating age data and an initial Pb isotope (.sup.207Pb/.sup.206Pb) composition of the calcite sample.

An example system includes a conductive sampling swab and a thermal desorber comprising an induction coil. The thermal desorber defines an opening configured to receive at least a portion of the conductive sampling swab within an internal volume defined by the induction coil, and the thermal desorber is configured to inductively heat the sampling swab to a temperature sufficient to vaporize a sample material disposed on the sampling swab.