Apparatus and methods for detection and quantification of elements in molecules
Inventors
Jorabchi, Kaveh • Lesniewski, Joseph • Zheng, Kunyu • White, Samuel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12322584-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method that includes introducing at least one analyte into a gas plasma; generating neutral species from atoms of the analyte in the gas plasma; preferentially transporting the neutral species downstream of the gas plasma relative to any ions produced in the gas plasma; and reacting the neutral species of the analyte with at least one reagent ion downstream of the plasma resulting in ion species of the analyte, wherein the at least one reagent ion is supplied by an independent ion source.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to improving PARCI (plasma assisted reaction chemical ionization) for elemental detection and quantification by separating neutral generation in a gas plasma from downstream charging for mass spectrometric detection. Analyte is introduced into a gas plasma to form neutral, element-specific species from atoms of the analyte, and the neutral species are transported downstream away from plasma ions.
Downstream, the transported neutral species are reacted with at least one reagent ion supplied by an independent ion source. The independent ion source is provided separately from the gas plasma, and it generates the reagent ions that react with the neutral analyte species to form analyte ion species suitable for mass spectrometric detection.
An apparatus architecture includes a gas plasma module, an independent downstream ion source module selected as an electrospray ionization module or a corona discharge module, and a mass spectrometer downstream of the ion source. The document further describes configurations using atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (APDBD) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and it integrates upstream chromatographic separation such as gas chromatography or liquid chromatography.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover two aspects: (i) a method where neutral analyte species generated in a gas plasma are transported downstream and then charged by reagent ions from an independent ion source, and (ii) an apparatus architecture with a gas plasma module, a downstream independent ion source selected between electrospray ionization and corona discharge, and a downstream mass spectrometer. The independent claims therefore define both the core PARCI decoupling workflow and a corresponding instrument layout using mass spectrometry.
Independent ion source supplying reagent ions downstream of a gas plasma
Introducing at least one analyte into a gas plasma; generating neutral species from atoms of the analyte in the gas plasma; transporting the neutral species downstream of the gas plasma; and reacting the neutral species of the analyte with at least one reagent ion downstream of the plasma, wherein the at least one reagent ion is supplied by an independent ion source.
Gas plasma module with a downstream electrospray or corona discharge ion source and mass spectrometer
A gas plasma module; an ion source downstream from the gas plasma module, wherein the ion source is an electrospray ionization module or a corona discharge module; and a mass spectrometer downstream from the ion source.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage is the downstream reaction of plasma-generated neutral analyte species with reagent ions generated by an independent downstream ion source, implemented as an apparatus combining a gas plasma module, either an electrospray ionization module or a corona discharge module downstream, and a mass spectrometer downstream of the ion source.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
GC-DBD-nano-ESI-MS detection of fluorinated compounds via Na2F+ with reported limit of detection (LOD) for fluorine and linear dynamic range.
Non-targeted fabric screening of Chico's brand shirt fabric.
Use of an elemental-to-molecular mode toggle as described in the document for detection.
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