Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) analysis with a carrier gas in the addition of an efficient dopant to the carrier gas stream exiting the DART source. Charge-exchange and proton transfer reactions are observed with the addition of dopants such as toluene, anisole, and acetone. The argon DART mass spectrum in the presence of an efficient dopant was dominated by molecular ions for aromatic compounds, whereas the helium DART mass spectrum of the same aromatic showed both molecular ions and protonated molecule species. Fragment ions generated from analysis with argon gas in the presence of an efficient dopant can be used to distinguish isobaric analytes.

Abstract: A non-radioactive atmospheric pressure method for ionization of analytes comprises creating an electrical discharge in a carrier gas thus creating metastable neutral excited-state species. The carrier gas is directed at the analytes and the analytes under conditions to suppress protonated water and water clusters.

Abstract: A method of producing analyte, analyte fragment, and/or analyte adduct ions for mass analysis comprises the steps of spraying a solvent at a surface bearing the analyte, directing desorbed analyte evolved from the surface into a region containing species which will ionize the analyte on collision, the ionizing region not including the surface bearing the analyte, and directing the ions formed in the ionizing region to the entrance to a mass analyzer.

Abstract: A method of inorganic analysis by mass spectrometry comprises treating a surface with a chelating reagent so that inorganic elements can be made volatile and desorbed directly from the surface, exposing the volume over the surface or a swab wiping the surface to a flow of metastable atoms and molecules at atmospheric pressure to ionize volatile compounds, and passing the ionized volatile compounds to a mass spectrometer or the like.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence and quantity of bacterial spores, which includes adding an electrophilic alcohol and an acid anhydride to a sample, admixing the sample with a solvent, and analyzing the sample. The sample may be analyzed by injecting the mixture into a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectra detector.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence and quantity of bacterial spores, which includes adding an electrophilic alcohol and an acid anhydride to a sample, admixing the sample with a solvent, and analyzing the sample. The sample may be analyzed by injecting the mixture into a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectra detector.

Abstract: A nonradioactive atmospheric pressure method for ionization of analytes comprises creating an electrical discharge in a carrier gas thus creating metastable neutral excited-state species. The carrier gas containing the excited-state species is directed into a reactant gas to form ions of the reactant gas. The ionized reactant gas is then directed at the analytes at atmospheric pressure near ground potential to form analyte ions.

Abstract: A non-radioactive atmospheric pressure device for ionization of analytes comprises an atmospheric pressure chamber having an inlet for carrier gas, a first electrode at one end, and a counter-electrode at the other end of the chamber for creating an electrical discharge in the carrier gas thus creating metastable neutral excited-state species. Optionally, a grid is provided to generate electrons or ions by contact with the excited-state species. The carrier gas containing the excited-state species or the electrons generated therefrom is directed at an analyte at atmospheric pressure near ground potential to form analyte ions.

Abstract: Analyzing a plurality of fluid specimens with a single analyzing instrument comprising introducing different combinations of specimens into a homogenizing volume to create a homogenized specimen and with a programmed digital computer mathematically processing the recorded results to produce analyses corresponding to individual fluid specimens.

Abstract: A method of mass spectrometry comprises the steps of ionizing the mixture of the sample and the matrix by repeated irradiation with primary particle beam pulses; introducing the produced ions into a mass analyzer and separating the ions with the mass analyzer according to their mass/charge ratios; detecting signals indicative of the number of the separated ions with an array detector; and integrating the detected signals during data collection periods in synchrony with the irradiation pulses of the primary particle beam. The data collection periods have a predetermined duration and predetermined start times relative to the primary particle beam pulses.

Abstract: An ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer is externally calibrated, i.e. a calibrant compound is not present at the same time as the sample to be analyzed, by determining changes in the relative number of ions in the cell. This may be done by obtaining a spectrum of the sample to be analyzed, measuring the trapping sidebands, and then determining the trapping frequency from those sidebands as the difference between the trapping sideband frequencies and divided by four. The cyclotron frequency can then be found from the effective measured frequency and the trapping frequency, and the mass is then obtained as a function of the cyclotron frequency. Another approach is to measure the magnetron frequency directly, and then to calculate the cyclotron frequency from the measured effective frequency and the magnetron frequency. A third approach is to introduce a calibrant compound into the cell and produce several output signals with various relative numbers of ions.

Abstract: A non-radioactive atmospheric pressure device for ionization of analytes comprises an atmospheric pressure chamber having an inlet for carrier gas, a first electrode at one end, and a counter-electrode at the other end of the chamber for creating an electrical discharge in the carrier gas thus creating metastable neutral excited-state species. Optionally, a grid is provided to generate electrons or ions by contact with the excited-state species. The carrier gas containing the excited-state species or the electrons generated therefrom is directed at an analyte at atmospheric pressure near ground potential to form analyte ions.

Abstract: A non-radioactive atmospheric pressure device for ionization of analytes comprises an atmospheric pressure chamber having an inlet for carrier gas, a first electrode at one end, and a counter-electrode at the other end of the chamber for creating an electrical discharge in the carrier gas thus creating metastable neutral excited-state species. Optionally, a grid is provided to generate electrons or ions by contact with the excited-state species. The carrier gas containing the excited-state species or the electrons generated therefrom is directed at an analyte at atmospheric pressure near ground potential to form analyte ions.

Abstract: A non-radioactive atmospheric pressure device for ionization of analytes comprises an atmospheric pressure chamber having an inlet for carrier gas, a first electrode at one end, and a counter-electrode at the other end of the chamber for creating an electrical discharge in the carrier gas thus creating metastable neutral excited-state species. Optionally, a grid is provided to generate electrons or ions by contact with the excited-state species. The carrier gas containing the excited-state species or the electrons generated therefrom is directed at an analyte at atmospheric pressure near ground potential to form analyte ions.