Title:
【発明の名称】低速単色性電子を用いた質量分析方法及び装置
Document Type and Number:
Japanese Patent JPH07508127
Kind Code:
A
Abstract:
Methods are disclosed for ascertaining whether molecules of a particular analyte are present in a sample. Molecules from the sample are passed into an electron monochromator in which the molecules are contacted by monochromatic electrons having a kinetic energy level within a range of greater than zero eV to less than about 6 eV. These energy levels are sufficient to form ions from at least a subpopulation of the molecules by electron capture by molecules of the subpopulation. The ions formed in the electron monochromator are then passed through a mass analyzer to obtain an ion spectrum which allows a determination to be made as to whether or not the ions profiled in the spectrum include ions produced from the analyte. Thus, the disclosed methods allow greatly enhanced detection of particular analytes of interest, such as explosives, drugs, pesticides, and other compounds of environmental, security, forensic, or other concern. The methods are particularly suitable for mass analysis of anions produced by electron capture of monochromatic electrons by certain molecules entering the electron monochromator. Improvement in detection sensitivity over conventional methods is about three orders of magnitude or more with substantially improved resolution. Use of a molecule-separating device, such a gas chromatograph, upstream of the electron monochromator can provide further improvement over conventional methods.
Inventors:
Dainzer Max L
Laramie James A
Laramie James A
Application Number:
JP50383594A
Publication Date:
September 07, 1995
Filing Date:
May 18, 1993
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Oregon
International Classes:
G01N23/225; G01N27/62; H01J27/20; H01J37/08; H01J49/14; (IPC1-7): H01J49/14; G01N23/225; G01N27/62; H01J27/20; H01J37/08
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Akihide Sugimura (1 outside)