Systems and methods for use in introducing samples to an analytical instrument. The systems and methods are adaptable to process either a liquid sample or a gaseous sample, including samples containing particle contaminants, for subsequent analysis using an analytical instrument.

A mass spectrometry (MS) apparatus is provided. The MS apparatus includes a mass spectrometer, an ionization source coupled to the mass spectrometer, and a flow injection system (FIS) coupled to the ionization source. The ionization source is configured to provide an ionized gas flow of an analyte towards an entrance of the mass spectrometer. The ionization source is further configured to provide a second gas flow of a second gas. The MS apparatus is configured to measure a mass spectrometer (MS) signal of the analyte. The MS apparatus is further configured to analyze a dependency of the MS signal of the analyte versus a parameter of the second gas flow or a state of the second gas flow and to determine a condition of the apparatus based on the analyzed dependency.

A method for assessing polymeric additive content A in a polymeric particle mixture may comprise determining a concentration B of a metal cation in a polymeric particle mixture comprising parent polymeric particles and polymeric additive particles, wherein the metal cation is selected from alkali earth metals and alkali metals, other than sodium (Na), and the metal cation is capable of forming a water-soluble base; determining a concentration C of the metal cation in the parent polymeric particles; determining a concentration D of the metal cation in the polymeric additive particles; and calculating a polymeric additive content A using formula A=(B−C)/D.

There is provided a gas analyzer apparatus including: a sample chamber which is equipped with a dielectric wall structure and into which only sample gas to be measured is introduced; a plasma generation mechanism that generates plasma inside the sample chamber, which has been depressurized, using an electric field and/or a magnetic field applied through the dielectric wall structure; and an analyzer unit that analyzes the sample gas via the generated plasma. By doing so, it is possible to provide a gas analyzer apparatus capable of accurately analyzing sample gases, even those including corrosive gas, over a long period of time.

Apparatus for laser induced ablation spectroscopy (LIBS) is disclosed. An apparatus can have a computer, a pulsed laser and a lightguide fiber bundle that is subdivided into branches. One branch can convey a first portion of the light to a first optical spectrometer and a different branch can convey a second portion of the light to another optical spectrometer. The first spectrometer can be relatively wideband to analyze a relative wide spectral segment and the other spectrometer can be high dispersion to measure minor concentrations. The apparatus can have a plurality of spectrometers with distinct and/or complementary capabilities, and can include an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer and data and instructions in tangible media operable to obtain a synergistic composition analysis based on optical spectra and ion mass to charge ratio peaks from the mass spectrometer.

The present disclosure describes embodiments directed to a bubble based ion source system comprising an ion source configured to generate a plurality of ions, an ion channel, an electrode, and/or any other components. The ion source can include a container at least partially comprising a solvent or solution, a bubble generator coupled to the container configured to generate a plurality of bubbles within the solvent, and/or any other component. The ion channel can receive ions that are generated based on solvent from the bubbles.

The present disclosure describes embodiments directed to a bubble based ion source system comprising an ion source configured to generate a plurality of ions, an ion channel, an electrode, and/or any other components. The ion source can include a container at least partially comprising a solvent or solution, a bubble generator coupled to the container configured to generate a plurality of bubbles within the solvent, and/or any other component. The ion channel can receive ions that are generated based on solvent from the bubbles.

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.

Systems and methods are provided for the analysis of single particles with inductively coupled plasma-time of flight mass spectrometry. An ion compression device is operated in combination with an image current detector to improve a duty cycle of particle analysis. The image current detection device is used to determine a start time and an end time of a separate ion cloud which is derived from a single particle. The ion compression device stores and compresses each ion cloud based on instructions from the image current detector. The duty cycle of the particle analysis can be improved up to nearly 100%. The ion compression device is additionally operated with an ion filtration device to achieve a lower detection limit and a higher signal-to-noise ratio.