QUADRUPOLE MASS-SPECTROMETRY IN COMBINATION WITH LITHIUM ION ATTACHMENT FOR SAMPLING AT ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE - POSSIBLE COUPLING TO SUPERCRITICAL FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

A novel device has been developed which permits sampling at atmospheric pressure followed by soft ionization mass spectrometry. Sample gases are introduced through a small aperture at atmospheric pressure into an ionization reaction chamber containing a lithium ion emitter. In this ionization reaction chamber, lithium ion attachment to the molecule takes place. The ionized adduct is detected by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. With this instrument incorporating soft ionization, it should be possible at atmospheric pressure to detect any chemical species, including radical intermediates, on a real time basis. In addition, the coupling to a supercritical fluid, gas, and liquid chromatograph is feasible.