Abstract: A method of microwave assisted chemical reaction includes providing a microwavable reaction vessel which contains at least one material in a sample. The sample is heated by microwave energy to elevate the temperature of the reagent and at least partially volatilize the sample to establish a gas phase within the vessel followed by positive cooling of the gas phase to reduce the temperature and responsively reduce the pressure of the gas phase without effecting substantial cooling of the liquid phase. The method may involve employing cooling exteriorly of and adjacent to the gas phase containing portion of the vessel or cooling by means of a coolant flowing within coils disposed in the interior of the vessel or both. The process is preferably a continuous process. The apparatus may be a vessel transparent to microwave energy for receiving the sample. The vessel has space overlying the liquid phase containing portion for a gas phase.

Abstract: A combination electrospray/microwave induced plasma (MIP) ionization source is used as the ionization source for a mass spectrometer. The electrospray can be operated in positive mode, negative mode, or it can be switched off. The microwave-induced plasma can also be switched on or off. This allows the instrument to be operated in multiple modes. With the electrospray off and the MIP on, the instrument will normally have its maximum elemental sensitivity. Mixed mode operation potentially allows the determination of additional information about the chemical constituents present in the analyte. In pure electrospray mode, it is possible to obtain molecular information and to analyze organic compounds.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of analysis of a solution is provided including the acts of: (a) mixing a spike with a sample of the solution to allow equilibrium to occur therebetween; (b) ionizing the equilibrated diluted sample and spike in an atmospheric pressure ionizer (API) to produce ions; (c) processing the ions in a mass spectrometer to provide a ratio response; (d) characterizing the concentration of a constituent in the sample using the ratio response; and (e) cyclically repeating acts (a) through (d) under machine control to automatically monitor the concentration of the constituent in the solution over time.

Abstract: A combination electrospray/microwave induced plasma (MIP) ionization source is used as the ionization source for a mass spectrometer. The electrospray can be operated in positive mode, negative mode, or it can be switched off. The microwave-induced plasma can also be switched on or off. This allows the instrument to be operated in multiple modes. With the electrospray off and the MIP on, the instrument will normally have its maximum elemental sensitivity. Mixed mode operation potentially allows the determination of additional information about the chemical constituents present in the analyte. In pure electrospray mode, it is possible to obtain molecular information and to analyze organic compounds.